How Do Genetics Affect Taste?

Scientists have identified a gene, TAS2R38, which plays a role in how we taste food. The presence of the PAV variation of this gene causes certain foods to taste bitter. in a study of 175 people, those with the PAV variant were 2.5X as likely to report that they do not eat many vegetables. In the future, this could be used to identify the flavor preferences of individuals and help create a more nutritious diet. This gene was already utilized to predict sweet food preferences in young children.



I do not believe that your sense of taste is determined by a single gene. I am not convinced that it is fully genetic either. While you may have a genetic predisposition to a flavor, your taste is shaped by what you are exposed to. For example, many people think that their mother's cooking is better than any other that they've had. Scientists are currently unable to explain how tastes change with age when there is no genetic differences within your tastebuds. While this is an interesting discovery, it is only a piece of a bigger story.

Links:
http://www.sci-news.com/genetics/genetic-food-choices-07813.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-genetics-of-taste-88797110/