喜欢甜食有遗传倾向
Researchers are close to identifying the gene that could explain why some mice and some people ?have a preference for sweet foods and drink.
The finding in mice suggests that humans, too, may be born with or without a ‘sweet tooth‘ gene.
Now that a chromosomal area likely to contain the ‘sweet-tooth‘ gene in mice has been determined, scientists have a much better idea where to look for such a gene in humans, according to Dr. Gary K. Beauchamp of Monell Chemical Senses Center, a not-for-profit research institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He estimated that it should be possible to find the human gene sometime within the next 6 to 12 months.
"There are very large individual differences in humans in sweet perception and sweet preference," Beauchamp said during his presentation at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society. "The question is, do they have a genetic component?"
Scientists have tested identical twins and traced the love of sweets within families to try to determine if a preference for sweets is genetically based. But Beauchamp said these results have been inconclusive, mostly because it is so difficult to design a good study of the subject in humans.
Trying an alternative approach, Beauchamp and colleagues identified two separate, inbred strains of mice: one with an extreme taste for sweets, and the other mostly indifferent to sugary tastes.
Genetic analysis revealed that the ‘sweet tooth‘ gene probably lies within a relatively narrow band, or locus, on chromosome 4 in mice. Because humans and mice share so much genetic material, Beauchamp believes that this locus on chromosome 4, called Sac, might contain the same ‘sweet-tooth‘ gene in humans, as well.
"Clearly, this locus by itself has a very, very profound effect on sweet preference," Beauchamp added., 百拇医药
The finding in mice suggests that humans, too, may be born with or without a ‘sweet tooth‘ gene.
Now that a chromosomal area likely to contain the ‘sweet-tooth‘ gene in mice has been determined, scientists have a much better idea where to look for such a gene in humans, according to Dr. Gary K. Beauchamp of Monell Chemical Senses Center, a not-for-profit research institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He estimated that it should be possible to find the human gene sometime within the next 6 to 12 months.
"There are very large individual differences in humans in sweet perception and sweet preference," Beauchamp said during his presentation at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society. "The question is, do they have a genetic component?"
Scientists have tested identical twins and traced the love of sweets within families to try to determine if a preference for sweets is genetically based. But Beauchamp said these results have been inconclusive, mostly because it is so difficult to design a good study of the subject in humans.
Trying an alternative approach, Beauchamp and colleagues identified two separate, inbred strains of mice: one with an extreme taste for sweets, and the other mostly indifferent to sugary tastes.
Genetic analysis revealed that the ‘sweet tooth‘ gene probably lies within a relatively narrow band, or locus, on chromosome 4 in mice. Because humans and mice share so much genetic material, Beauchamp believes that this locus on chromosome 4, called Sac, might contain the same ‘sweet-tooth‘ gene in humans, as well.
"Clearly, this locus by itself has a very, very profound effect on sweet preference," Beauchamp added., 百拇医药