Genes may determine alcohol preferences

Scientists have claimed genes may determine alcohol preferences after linking alcohol-related sensations and bitter taste receptors to genetic variations.

The findings of a study – lead by Dr John E Hayes of the Sensory Evaluation Centre at The Pennsylvania State University and published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research – revealed people with a particular version of a bitterness taste receptor gene found alcoholic beverages to be less bitter tasting than those with a different version of the gene.

“The reason this work is significant s because it fills in this gap, because no one had shown in the lab that the alcohol actually tastes differently depending on which [version of the gene] you have,” said Hayes, as reported by the Business Standard.

He continued to explain humans have 25 genes that encode for taste receptors on the tongue that perceive bitterness.

Two variants of these genes were observed during the study – TAS2R13 and TAS2R83 – in 93 healthy Europeans, plus variants in the gene TRPV1, responsible for receptors perceiving burning or stinging sensations in the mouth.

Participants were required sip and spit a drink that was 16% abv and record the overall intensity, as well as score their taste sensations for three minutes after having a cotton bud soaked in a 50% abv solution on the back of their tongue.

Researchers discovered three places in the TAS2R38 gene where a change in its code was related to bitterness perception.

Every person carries two copies of the gene, but the study concluded those with two copies of the most sensitive version of the gene perceived alcohol to be the most bitter.