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Independent evolution of bitter-taste sensitivity in humans and chimpanzees

Author

Listed:
  • Stephen Wooding

    (University of Utah)

  • Bernd Bufe

    (German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke)

  • Christina Grassi

    (Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research)

  • Michael T. Howard

    (University of Utah)

  • Anne C. Stone

    (Arizona State University)

  • Maribel Vazquez

    (Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research)

  • Diane M. Dunn

    (University of Utah)

  • Wolfgang Meyerhof

    (German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke)

  • Robert B. Weiss

    (University of Utah)

  • Michael J. Bamshad

    (University of Utah
    University of Washington)

Abstract

Change for the bitter The ability to sense bitter taste is vital for detecting toxins in food. Phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) is unusual in that to us it tastes either very bitter, or almost tasteless, depending on an individual's genetics. In a classic Nature paper in 1939, R. A. Foster, E. B. Ford and J. S. Huxley showed that chimpanzees also have variable PTC sensitivity, which was thought to reflect a shared ancient genetic polymorphism maintained by natural selection. Now that the TAS2R38 locus responsible for human PTC sensitivity has been identified, Wooding et al. have revisited the comparison. TAS2R38 is also involved in chimpanzees but, surprisingly, the mutations responsible for the polymorphism differ in the two species. ‘Non-taster’ alleles seem to have evolved at least twice, independently, during hominid evolution. The cover photo by D. J. Cox was taken in Chattanooga Zoo, Tennessee, in March 2003; the chimp is gathering as much fruit as he can carry.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Wooding & Bernd Bufe & Christina Grassi & Michael T. Howard & Anne C. Stone & Maribel Vazquez & Diane M. Dunn & Wolfgang Meyerhof & Robert B. Weiss & Michael J. Bamshad, 2006. "Independent evolution of bitter-taste sensitivity in humans and chimpanzees," Nature, Nature, vol. 440(7086), pages 930-934, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:440:y:2006:i:7086:d:10.1038_nature04655
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04655
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