Insects, like mammals including humans, sort chemicals by taste into a few categories and use this information to decide whether to ingest or reject food.
Cell & Microbiology
Jan 23, 2017
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4
Anyone who's watched a cat throwing up after munching on grass knows that our feline friends aren't natural plant eaters. So you might be surprised to discover that these carnivorous animals share some important genes that ...
Plants & Animals
Nov 16, 2015
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99
Cat taste receptors respond in a unique way to bitter compounds compared with human receptors, according to research published in the open access journal BMC Neuroscience. The study represents the first glimpse into how domestic ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jun 3, 2015
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26
One key to animal survival is bitter taste——the better to avoid ingesting potentially harmful poisons or foods. The evolution of bitter taste has been a hot topic amongst evolutionary biologists, and with more and more ...
Evolution
Oct 8, 2014
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0
Mosquitoes not only have a sense of smell for certain insect repellents, but they also have a sense of taste for these chemicals, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.
Cell & Microbiology
Aug 5, 2014
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3
Despite the popular conception of giant pandas as continually chomping on bamboo to fulfill a voracious appetite for this reedy grass, new research from the Monell Center reveals that this highly endangered species also has ...
Plants & Animals
Mar 26, 2014
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0
Expression of taste signal transduction molecules were revealed not only in the tongue, but also in the cecum of common marmosets, by a research group organized with Associate Professor Hiroo IMAI of the Primate Research ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 18, 2013
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1
Researchers have discovered a chemical that specifically blocks people's ability to detect the bitter aftertaste that comes with artificial sweeteners such as saccharin. The key is a molecule known only as GIV3727 that specifically ...
Biochemistry
May 27, 2010
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97
Many plants protect themselves from hungry animals by producing toxic chemicals. In turn, animals rely on detecting the presence of these harmful chemicals to avoid consuming dangerous plant material. A paper, published in ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 30, 2009
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0
Researchers from the Monell Center report that the red panda is the first non-primate mammal to display a liking for the artificial sweetener aspartame. This unexpected affinity for an artificial sweetener may reflect structural ...
Other
Apr 15, 2009
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