Discussion (2 paragraphs The discussion should be two paragraphs in length. The
ID: 152127 • Letter: D
Question
Discussion (2 paragraphs The discussion should be two paragraphs in length. The first paragraph should include final conclusions about your TAS2R38 alleles based on evidence from tasting the gel, and sequencing. Also interpret your own genotype/phenotype; how are they related (e.g., how could a non-functional product come about) in this paragraph. Lastly, compare your genotyping and phenotyping results. Provide a biological explanation that rationalizes your genotype and phenotype results. The second paragraph should report the importance and the implications of your results. What's the take home message? Are there any limitations of the study?Explanation / Answer
The ability to taste bitter thiourea compounds, such as phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) is inherited. Polymorphisms in the bitter-taste receptor TAS2R38 explain the majority of phenotypic variation in the PTC phenotype. It has been hypothesized that the PTC phenotype is a marker for the perception of a variety of chemosensory experiences. the relationship between bitter-taste response and dietary behaviors and chronic health in children. Investigators have hypothesized that children who are PTC tasters have lower liking and consumption of bitter foods, such as cruciferous vegetables. Additionally, several studies suggest that children who are unable to taste PTC (i.e., nontasters) like and consume more dietary fat and are prone to obesity. The relationship between the PROP phenotype and obesity is influenced by multiple confounders, including sex, food access, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Researches suggest a highly unusual bimodal distribution in the ability to taste PTC, with approximately 70% classified as “tasters” and 30% classified as taste blind, or “nontasters.” Additional family-based studies led to the conclusion that taste blindness to the bitterness in PTC was a Mendelian recessive trait, although reports of taster offspring coming from two nontaster parents suggest a more complicated inheritance pattern.
Variations in both the PTC genotype and other genes (e.g.,gustin) are thought to influence variation in the ability to taste PROP. The PROP phenotype is a marker for a variety of chemosensory experiences and may also impact food and beverage preferences. Moreover, a link has been identified between food and beverage preference and dietary consumption. Finally, consumption patterns influence chronic health conditions. Other influences on taste perception, food preference, diet, and chronic disease risk include lifestyle and environmental factors as well as other genes. In conclusion, genetic variation in the ability to taste bitter thiourea compounds may have important implications as a marker for dietary patterns and chronic health in children. The take home message of testing these things suggests that some children who are sensitive to bitter taste may require additional strategies to accept and consume bitter-tasting fruits and vegetables (e.g., using dips and sauces, offering milder juice blends, and providing greater access to these foods in the environment). Additionally, children who are insensitive to bitter thiourea may have greater intakes of high-fat foods and excess body weight, but it is likely that this relationship is affected by factors such as sex, age, culture, and access to foods in the environment. Future studies are needed to provide insight into the relationships among PTC genotype, and liking and intake of sweet-tasting foods across childhood. In addition, future studies should include measures of the food environment, cultural methods of food preparation, and other genetic markers of chemosensation to understand the complex pathway linking bitter-taste variation to dietary patterns and chronic health.