The loss of taste genes in cetaceans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Five basic taste modalities, sour, sweet, bitter, salt and umami, can be distinguished by humans and are fundamental for physical and ecological adaptations in mammals. Molecular genetic studies of the receptor genes for these tastes have been conducted in terrestrial mammals; however, little is known about the evolution and adaptation of these genes in marine mammals.

Results

Here, all five basic taste modalities, sour, sweet, bitter, salt and umami, were investigated in cetaceans. The sequence characteristics and evolutionary analyses of taste receptor genes suggested that nearly all cetaceans may have lost all taste modalities except for that of salt.

Conclusions

This is the first study to comprehensively examine the five basic taste modalities in cetace

SUBMITTER: Zhu K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4232718 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature