Receptor for Tasting Fat Foods

Summary: Why do we like fatty foods so much? Blame our taste buds. According to researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine, our tongues recognize the taste of fat. The researchers have found that variations in a gene can increase or decrease the sensitivity and reaction to fat foods. Researcher Nada A. Abrumad says that it is possible that the more fat we consume makes us less sensitive to fats. People who make the protein CD36 are more sensitive to fats than people who don't produce CD36.

Impact: People who have the protein CD36 need to be more cautious about what they eat so they don't get fat.

Critique: Currently, I don't know the taste of fat so I couldn't tell you if it tasted like fat or not.

Reference: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2012/01/15/receptor_for_tasting_fat_identified_in_humans.html