Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/p1sVHQRgSYo

 

Which foods we crave are determined by some 325 genes, primarily found in our brain tissues, as well as by our acquired personal preferences.  Scottish investigators now report this conclusion from their genome-association study of data from a half million subjects in the UK Biobank.

 

Their data showed that people’s food preferences fall into 3 groups: highly pleasurable items such as meats, junk foods, and desserts; low-cal foods including fruits and vegetables; and acquired taste foods such as coffee, alcohol, and spices.  When the numbers were crunched, it turns out that your genes and your personal preferences each contribute half to your food consumption habits.

 

The genetic basis for food preferences has been previously confirmed using twin studies.  The fact that the US has an obesity problem suggests that the donut gene may be way too prevalent!

 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-30187-w

 

#foods #genetics #pleasure #taste