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Blind cavefish have extraordinary taste buds

Researchers found that blind cavefish develop more taste buds on their head and chin, particularly after 18 months of age. This adaptation is thought to be an adaptive trait, allowing the fish to better detect food sources like bat guano.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 15, 2024

Maternal and early-life high-fat diets result in a taste for salty food

A study published in Scientific Reports found that rats exposed to high-fat diets during pregnancy and early life developed a preference for salty taste. This preference was linked to increased levels of AT1 protein in the taste buds, which can lead to higher sodium intake and potentially contribute to obesity and diet-linked diseases.

SourceTokyo Medical and Dental University·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 24, 2023
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What happens when food first touches your tongue

A new study from Ohio State University finds that food's molecular size and movement on the tongue influence how quickly we perceive taste. The researchers modeled flavor flow over papillae to understand why some tastes register faster than others.

SourceOhio State University·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJul 9, 2020

Common origin identified could bring tooth regeneration potential closer

Researchers have discovered a common origin shared by teeth and taste buds in fish with regenerative abilities. This finding holds potential for bioengineering and dental therapeutics as it suggests that oral organs can be manipulated to express characteristics of different tissue types.

SourceKing's College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2019

An electric tongue can handle more spicy foods than you can

Researchers at Washington State University found that an electronic tongue is more accurate and effective than human taste buds in tasting spicy foods. The e-tongue can handle high concentrations of heat without losing accuracy, allowing for faster and more precise testing of new products.

SourceWashington State University·JournalJournal of Food Science·DateMay 9, 2019
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How obesity dulls the sense of taste

A study published in PLOS Biology found that obesity is associated with a decline in taste buds due to chronic inflammation and fat accumulation. Mice fed an obesogenic diet had 25% fewer taste buds than lean mice, with increased apoptosis rates and decreased progenitor cells.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMar 20, 2018

Taste loss and recovery following cancer drug treatment

Mice treated with sonidegib exhibited significant taste bud and nerve response restoration within 14 days of discontinuing treatment. The study highlights the potential for recovery from severe taste loss following cancer drug treatment.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 13, 2017

Taste bud maintenance in mice requires Hedgehog signaling

The Hedgehog signaling pathway is required to maintain and replenish taste buds and taste papillae in mouse models. Disruptions in the pathway can lead to rapid disappearance of taste buds, highlighting its importance in taste organ homeostasis.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateNov 28, 2016

Regrow a tooth? Fish -- yes; humans -- maybe some day

Researchers studying Lake Malawi cichlids and mice aim to understand how fish regenerate teeth and develop new teeth in humans. The study reveals potential genetic pathways for tooth regeneration in humans, but more research is needed to make it viable.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 19, 2015
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Scientists watch living taste cells in action

A team of scientists has captured live images of taste cells on a mouse tongue, showing that each taste bud contains cells for different tastes. This breakthrough complements recent studies on the brain areas associated with taste and may lead to new experiments to monitor brain activity while imaging the tongue.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 22, 2015

A new model to understand the supertasting phenomenon

A new mouse model has been developed to study supertasting, a condition where people strongly detect food flavors like bitter and sweet. The model, which overexpresses brain-derived neurotrophic factor, may provide insights into the protective cardiovascular effects of avoiding sweet and fatty foods.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJun 21, 2012
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Age dramatically delays recovery of the sense of taste

Researchers found that older rats take twice as long to recover their sense of taste compared to younger counterparts. A balanced response between neutrophils and macrophages enhances recovery, but the exact mechanisms are not fully understood.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·DateApr 21, 2010

Penn researchers discover initial steps in the development of taste

Scientists have pinpointed a molecular pathway regulating the development of taste buds, with Wnt proteins playing a key role in initiating taste-bud formation and connecting them to the brain. This breakthrough sheds light on the lesser-understood sense of taste.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature Genetics·DateDec 5, 2006

Gene key to taste bud development identified

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center identified the SOX2 gene as crucial for taste bud development, revealing its role in stem cell transformation and cellular differentiation. The findings may lead to a better understanding of developmental disorders and provide insights into how stem cells operate in adults.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalGenes & Development·DateSep 30, 2006

Insect Taste Buds Target Of Control Method

Researchers at Penn State aim to protect crops by targeting insect taste buds, which are a direct connection between the central nervous system and the outside. By identifying chemicals that stimulate or suppress feeding behavior, scientists hope to develop more effective control methods for corn rootworm pests.

SourcePenn State·DateMar 30, 1998