phen·yl·thi·o·u·re·a

(fen'il-thī'ō-yū-rē'ă),

A substance that tastes bitter to some people but is tasteless to others. The ability to taste it is thought to be an autosomal dominant trait. Phenylthiourea contains the N-C=S group on which the taste peculiarity apparently depends; goitrogenic or antithyroid substances (for example, thiourea and thiouracil), which also contain this group, possess the same property with respect to taste. See: taste deficiency.

Synonym(s): phenylthiocarbamide

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

phenylthiocarbamide

(fĕn′əl-thī′ō-kär′bə-mīd′, -kär-băm′īd, fē′nəl-)

n. Abbr. PTC

A crystalline compound, C₇H₈N₂S, that tastes intensely bitter to people with a specific dominant gene and is used to test for the presence of the gene. Also called phenylthiourea.

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References in periodicals archive

Some human beings are taste blind to phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) and to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP).

Phenylthiocarbamide Tasting and its Implications - A Preliminary Study on Human Population Genetics in the Hazara Division of Pakistan

For decades, taste researchers have used a chemical called phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) to assay a person's capability to sense a bitter taste.

Discovery of bitter-taste gene is sweet. (Biology)

The first clue that humans differ in taste sensations was discovered more than 65 years ago as the result of a laboratory accident, when dust from a newly synthesized chemical compound, PTC (phenylthiocarbamide, a.k.a.

Can't Stand Broccoli? It May Be Your Genes!

According to spokesman for the Eden Project, the vegetables contain a bitter chemical similar to PTC (Phenylthiocarbamide) which tastes bitter to people that have a variation of a certain gene.

Hate sprouts? Blame it on your genes

Genetic material sequenced by Italian researchers from the bones of an ancient ancestor who lived 48,000 years ago showed the individual had a gene that caused him or her to shun bitter foods - more precisely foods containing phenylthiocarbamide (PTC).

Are you ready for the sprout drought of 2010?

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