A Taste for Bitter

Being able to discern bitter tastes was probably an advantage for early humans; it helped them avoid toxins. New research has found evidence of evolutionary selection for the ability in humans. Scientist have found that some of the genes responsible for bitter taste recognition expanded rapidly in the human population during the Middle Pleistocene, before the expansion of early humans out of Africa.

While this ability may have helped early populations avoid toxic meals, it may also limit the consumption of foods that contain healthful compounds that also taste bitter. Many foods rich in antioxidants are avoided in modern diets because of their bitter flavours.

Link: Toxins Drove Evolution of Human Taste Sense, Global Study Reveals a news release from Duke University Medical Centre

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 10:16 AM on August 16, 2005