We continued a discussion on pharmacogenetics, or studying phenotypes in terms of how we react to chemicals in our bodies.
We did the popular genetic test on tasting phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), a Mendelian trait easy to diagnose. Some people have the dominant allele that manifests in being able to taste PTC (dubbed "tasters", with the genotype TT or Tt), and some people have only the recessive allele, which prevents them from tasting the chemical compound (dubbed "non-tasters", with genotype tt). Those who can taste it perceive a bitter flavor.
In our class there were 16 'taster' vs. 6 'non-taster' students. A fast survey revealed that tasters have a tendency to dislike foods or beverages that have chemicals similar to PTC, like dark beer (question limited to students over 21 years of age), coffee, strong cheeses, artificial sweeteners, and spicy foods. Interestingly enough, most tasters also liked vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, which should be bitter for them. Non-tasters tended to like such foods and beverages.
We discussed the scope of ecogenetics, the field that studies our responses to chemicals in the environment.
We started the chapter on mutation by providing a definition and outlining the conditions in which a mutation that has a phenotypic effect can be detected.
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