Try a sprout next time someone cooks them for you. Go on, I dare
you. Still not convinced? What about broccoli or cauliflower? Do
you know anyone who does like these vegetables? You can tell these
veggie lovers that they're insensitive: they can't taste the
bitterness that everyone else can taste.
I happen to love sprouts (OK, I know I'm weird), but loads of
people don't like them. Now, at last, you have an excuse. It's
genetic!
Mmm...tasty sprouts!
It's all in the genes
Researchers fed lots of volunteers different vegetables,
including broccoli, cauliflower and the dreaded sprouts. They found
that there are several different types of the tongue receptor
TAS2R. People who have the 'sensitive' form of this receptor can
taste bitter chemicals that are present in vegetables such as
sprouts. This is what makes them taste disgusting to a lot of
people.
Why do some people have a 'sensitive'
receptor?
Researchers are still trying to work this out. Some things that
taste bitter can be harmful, so perhaps people evolved a
sensitivity to these bitter tastes so that they wouldn't be
poisoned by their food. However, maybe in other areas where harmful
bitter tasting chemicals are rare in food, the benefits of a nice
bit of nutritious green veg outweighed the risk of poisoning. This
meant that an 'insensitive' taste receptor developed. Around one
third of us have 'insensitive' TAS2R receptors, so we can't taste
the bitterness in sprouts and other leafy green vegetables. I'm one
of these people!
Taste receptors are also thought to change over time. This could
be why more adults than young people like the taste of broccoli or
sprouts. Or maybe they just put up with it.
I think this girl has a
sensitive TAS2R receptor!
Try it out
The next time you're at the dinner table, why don't you carry
out a mini scientific study. Who likes sprouts? Does it run in the
family: could it be genetic? Do more adults like sprouts than
younger people?
Let us know what you find out!
Right, now we know all about them, Planet Science is going to
find some tasty sprouts for dinner...