Whether you are more apt to reach for a handful of potato chips or go for the bowl of candy may have something to do with your genetics.
23andMe scientists identified genetic markers associated with preferring sweet snacks to salty or savoury ones.
Genetics of Taste Preference
Your age and culture influences the food you like. But genetics plays an important role too.
23andMe customers were evenly split about whether they preferred a salty snack or a sweet one. But looking at the data, researchers here found several genetic markers associated with preferring sweet snacks over salty ones.
23andMe’s study found that individuals several variants associated with a preference for sweets.
One of the many interesting aspects of this finding is that both of these genetic markers are in genes that are associated either with metabolism or body mass.
The marker is in the gene FGF21 and the other marker is located in the FTO gene.
Obesity
Unlike other studies where genetic markers that influence food preference were found in genes associated with taste receptors on the tongue. These genes are more associated with how people metabolize food. They could offer more insight for researchers studying diabetes, obesity and nutrition.
Writing recently in the New York Times, Carl Zimmer explained how variants in the FTO gene now associated with obesity may have offered an evolutionary advantage. Now, however, with more sedentary lives those variants could be detrimental to people’s health.
23andMe researchers compiled a white paper looking at these and 27 other variants associated with taste preference.
To find out more you can download the paper here.