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Phenylthiocarbamide

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Phenylthiocarbamide, known as PTC, is a compound that is sensitive to the bitter taste of some individuals while tasteless or slightly less bitter to others. The ability to taste PTC is inherited by the presence of a T2R taste receptors found on the tongue. Studies on this began during the 1930s, where scientists noticed that crystals of PTC had different affects on the taste buds of individuals. To test this observation out they used PTC-saturated paper, where the experimentee would place the paper in their mouth for a few seconds and the results were recorded. Those who were able to taste the bitterness of the PTC-saturated paper are known as “tasters”, while those who were not able to taste anything are called “non-tasters”. Being able to

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