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Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: DrN on 28/03/2009 11:54:50

Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: DrN on 28/03/2009 11:54:50
Now, if I was asked which food was the most foul-tasting, I would be hard pressed to choose between marmite and celery. Absolutely disgusting, both of them! I can't bear the smell of marmite, and if celery has so much as brushed past any other food, the smell and taste is transferred and I can't touch that either. Makes eating salads in restaurants somewhat problematic.

Having carried out a scientific analysis (i.e. I asked a few friends, and n=very low), I found that most people who hated marmite also hated celery. This leads me to believe that there may be a genetic influence at work here.

My brother, however, loves marmite (and used to chase me round the kitchen with it when we were little) but also hates celery. So maybe there are two genes at work? I have to admit, I didn't include my parents in my little poll, bit of a major limitation of this study methinks.

Anyhoo, I wondered if anyone knows anything about the genetics of taste and could explain this to me, or, failing that, how many of you hate both marmite and celery?!

PS I'm not sure how widespread the marmite phenomenon is, or if it's called something different in other countries, so apologies if any non-brits don't know what I'm talking about!
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: JnA on 28/03/2009 12:00:13
You may need to widen your focus group..


however both marmite and celery are bitter.. so maybe it's a taste bud/receptor thing..



edited to add that I like both celery and the Australian equivalent Vegemite
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 28/03/2009 12:14:40
I like Marmite, not celery though.
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: neilep on 28/03/2009 12:27:35
I can't answer the question specifically but I love marmite (and vegemite..and Bovril Spread ) and I like celery too !


Sorry, don't mean to side-jack the thread but did anyone try the Champagne version ?


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Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 28/03/2009 12:29:44
I'd love to, but we can only get boring jars.

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.homesick-kiwi.com%2Fphotos-food%2Fmarmite1.jpg&hash=56b6160ecb6f3f5b1d5e3069dcc5e40b)
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Variola on 28/03/2009 12:31:02
I love both marmite and celery!
My kids all love marmite but hate celery.
Maybe your tastebuds get 'fixed' in a childhood state?? lol Thats why I still to this day can't stand sprouts!!

I have often wondered whether more men dislike tomatoes than women, it seems most men I speak too hate tomatoesm, but most woman like them.
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 28/03/2009 12:32:29
Men should eat tomatoes.
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: DrN on 28/03/2009 12:33:13
I can't stand tomatoes either! Raw ones anyway - again, too bitter. They're fine when cooked and in a tomato based pasta sauce or something.
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 28/03/2009 12:36:19
Must be all that lycopene aye? [:)]
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Variola on 28/03/2009 12:39:56
I can't stand tomatoes either! Raw ones anyway - again, too bitter. They're fine when cooked and in a tomato based pasta sauce or something.

Marzipan is the worst one for me, and things like fruit cake or xmas pudding..ugh! Yet I would say I have quite a sweet tooth.
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: neilep on 28/03/2009 12:48:54
I can't stand tomatoes either! Raw ones anyway - again, too bitter. They're fine when cooked and in a tomato based pasta sauce or something.

Ewe need to try the sweet vine ripend ones !

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Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: neilep on 28/03/2009 12:49:38
I can't stand tomatoes either! Raw ones anyway - again, too bitter. They're fine when cooked and in a tomato based pasta sauce or something.

Marzipan is the worst one for me, and things like fruit cake or xmas pudding..ugh! Yet I would say I have quite a sweet tooth.

Totally agree..Yuk..I also hate mince pies...*le extra yuk*
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Variola on 28/03/2009 13:13:32
Quote
Totally agree..Yuk..I also hate mince pies...*le extra yuk*

Ugh!!! Yep me to. Does that mean I share the same genes as a sheep??
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: neilep on 28/03/2009 13:23:32
Quote
Totally agree..Yuk..I also hate mince pies...*le extra yuk*

Ugh!!! Yep me to. Does that mean I share the same genes as a sheep??

If ewe like high heels...then yes !....why yes indeed ! we are GENErally related !  [:D]
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Variola on 28/03/2009 13:32:50
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Totally agree..Yuk..I also hate mince pies...*le extra yuk*



Ugh!!! Yep me to. Does that mean I share the same genes as a sheep??

If ewe like high heels...then yes !....why yes indeed ! we are GENErally related !  [:D]

I love high heels.... that explains why some mornings my hair is frizzy!!
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Variola on 28/03/2009 13:34:54
Quote
Sorry, don't mean to side-jack the thread but did anyone try the Champagne version ?


I didn't, I was a bit baffled by it. Was it any good??
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: DrN on 28/03/2009 15:03:20
Champagne marmite  [???] [???] [???] Bleeeuughhh!

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi143.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fr133%2Flindsayjemerson%2Fvomit.gif&hash=fb8bf2a2d4ec1cb5625831c747de7cfb)
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Karen W. on 29/03/2009 04:09:44
I can't answer the question specifically but I love marmite (and vegemite..and Bovril Spread ) and I like celery too !


Sorry, don't mean to side-jack the thread but did anyone try the Champagne version ?


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I love celery and don't find it bitter at all Love tomatoes don't find them bitter either.. I also do not recall what Marmite is but Sheepy, I believe you told me once and I have forgotten.. can someone tell me what it is again please?

OK swell I looked it up and its a spread which actually contains celery extracts etc.. yeast..and such thick dark savory spread.. someone needs to ship me a jar to try! LOL..

Sounds Yummy!

Hey Neily That jar you show is actually a limited edition from Valentines day The label was made so you could write sweet nothings too wifey on the other side! awwww! How sweet! Maybe it will be of value in say 6o years! LOL...
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 29/03/2009 04:18:24
It's like a salty tasting spread. [:P] I just had some. [:P]
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Karen W. on 29/03/2009 04:19:33
It sounds good.. I just added to previous post.. Thanks C4M!
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Bored chemist on 29/03/2009 11:19:10
Both my parents leik celery, but I don't so, at best, it's not a simple inheritance.
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: neilep on 29/03/2009 14:23:42
Quote
Sorry, don't mean to side-jack the thread but did anyone try the Champagne version ?


I didn't, I was a bit baffled by it. Was it any good??

*le sigh* I never tried it ! *le sulk*
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: DrN on 29/03/2009 19:05:53
Aha, now we're getting somewhere!!

Quote
OK swell I looked it up and its a spread which actually contains celery extracts etc.. yeast..and such thick dark savory spread.. someone needs to ship me a jar to try! LOL..

I had no idea it actually contained celery, but may explain why I don't like both of them. Doesn't explain those amongst us who like one or t'other though!
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: RD on 29/03/2009 20:20:47
I wondered if anyone knows anything about the genetics of taste and could explain this to me

The ability to taste certain compounds is genetic ...

Quote
About 75 percent of people worldwide can taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), while the remaining quarter can't. PTC tasters are less likely to smoke cigarettes than non-tasters, but they're also less likely to eat cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, that are important sources of nutrition ...
Differences in PTC sensitivity were first discovered in 1930, when American chemist Arthur Fox accidentally let loose some of the compound in his laboratory. Fox noted that while some people complained of a bad taste from PTC, others could not taste it
http://news.bio-medicine.org (http://news.bio-medicine.org/biology-news-3/Separate-genetic-mutations-gave-people--chimps-bitter-taste-sensitivity-7204-1/)
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Karen W. on 29/03/2009 21:38:40
I have pretty good taste buds that way.. say coconut or coconut milk or other certain tastes I can taste and tell that it is in a recipe and others cannot.. tumeric also.. lots of seasonings and additives are clearly taste specific!

I also do not smoke or anything either but I love my broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables to!
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: neilep on 30/03/2009 01:52:38
Aha, now we're getting somewhere!!

Quote
OK swell I looked it up and its a spread which actually contains celery extracts etc.. yeast..and such thick dark savory spread.. someone needs to ship me a jar to try! LOL..



I had no idea it actually contained celery, but may explain why I don't like both of them. Doesn't explain those amongst us who like one or t'other though!

Well I was brought up on Marmite as are my kids so we all love it !....It does have celery extract in it !!..does this mean it has celery poo in it ?  [:)]
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Karen W. on 30/03/2009 01:57:54
It means it sounds Yummy to me!
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: DrN on 30/03/2009 23:02:43

The ability to taste certain compounds is genetic ...

Quote
About 75 percent of people worldwide can taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), while the remaining quarter can't. PTC tasters are less likely to smoke cigarettes than non-tasters, but they're also less likely to eat cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, that are important sources of nutrition ...
Differences in PTC sensitivity were first discovered in 1930, when American chemist Arthur Fox accidentally let loose some of the compound in his laboratory. Fox noted that while some people complained of a bad taste from PTC, others could not taste it
http://news.bio-medicine.org (http://news.bio-medicine.org/biology-news-3/Separate-genetic-mutations-gave-people--chimps-bitter-taste-sensitivity-7204-1/)


Thats pretty interesting, but what does phenylthiocarbamide taste like?
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: RD on 30/03/2009 23:17:07
Thats pretty interesting, but what does phenylthiocarbamide taste like?

Quote
Phenylthiocarbamide, also known as PTC, or phenylthiourea, is an organic compound that either tastes very bitter, or is virtually tasteless, depending on the genetic makeup of the taster. The ability to taste PTC is a dominant genetic trait. The test to determine PTC sensitivity is one of the most common genetic tests on humans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenylthiocarbamide
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: DrN on 30/03/2009 23:21:55
So, is it in celery?
Title: Is liking marmite and celery genetic?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 01/04/2009 05:36:09
Don't think so...