B. Tepper
Nov 1, 1998
Citations
13
Influential Citations
174
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
American journal of human genetics
Abstract
6-n-Propylthiouracil (PROP) and phenythiocarbamide (PTC) are members of a class of compounds known as “thioureas.” These compounds carry the chemical group N-C=S, which is responsible for their characteristic bitter taste (for review, see Bartoshuk et al. 1994; Drewnowski and Rock 1995). As is true for many scientific discoveries, the bitterness of PROP and PTC were discovered by accident. In 1931, while Fox was synthesizing PTC in his laboratory, some of the white crystals became airborne. His colleagues perceived a bitter taste, but Fox tasted nothing.