AboutTom Whiting Expertise I can answer most questions involving general science and engineering, except those involving electronics and computers. My strong points are all the Earth Sciences, especially Meteorology and Astronomy, and any related subjects to Astronomy. My weak point is Electronics Technology.
(No astrology questions, please)!
Experience My hobby has been Astronomy for over 50 years. I currently own
and use a 30 inch portable telescope. I taught at the University Level for 13 years. My personal interest in life, in general, has always been science oriented.
Organizations President - Erie County Mobile Observers Group
Publications Astronomy Technology Today
Erie Times Newspaper - I wrote the "Over Erie Skies" column
for 11 years.
Education/Credentials I have a BS in Metallurgical Engineering with 24 hours of Inorganic
Chemistry, and 18 hours of Physics. I also earned a M.Ed. degree
in 1981. I also attended USAF Flight School with 180 combat missions over the Southeast Asia Region, in 1968-1970.
Awards and Honors I was the discoverer of the Mini-Coathanger Asterism up in Ursa Minor. I earned 6 Air Medals with USAF and retired after 20 years of service with the rank of Major, with over 2100 hours flying time.
I also earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1956.
Expert: Tom Whiting Date: 7/1/2008 Subject: Does every human taste receptor work differently? Do we enjoy the same kind of taste sensation?
Question QUESTION: I understand no human taste receptor work exactly the same,does all the normal human taste receptor work differently among different people? when we taste the same flavour?
Animals have different taste receptor from us, since we are all human, does it mean our taste receptor produce the same taste sensation? Do we have the same kind of taste receptor in our tongue?
Some people might argue that human have different taste different food....but what if we like the same food? do we have the same tastebud? do we taste the same?
If two person like the same flavour....like sweet, do they share the same taste?
Most people like the taste of burger, fries and sweet stuffs, fastfood....does that mean human have the same preference?
and if human have the same preference over certain flavour, do we taste the same thing?
Beside the level of intensity...Does my "sweet" generally the "sweet"taste by everyone?
ANSWER: Hi Rambo,
Would there really be a definitive way (test) of knowing whether the
taste and flavor of one person is EXACTLY the same as another?
How could you test for that, as it's all subjective, isn't it?
And so are...likes and dislikes of various substances.
I can only offer an opinion, since no test can be devised...this
isn't a "science" question, just a matter of opinion.
{To be science, a hypothesis has to be observable, testable and repeatable, by definition.} This question isn't.
And my opinion goes back to DNA. Since we are all nearly the
same from a DNA standpoint (even the Chimps are 99% our DNA)
and since we are all carbon-based lifeforms on this planet,
then it follows that we, for the most part, have the same flavors
and taste receptors on our tongues.
Likes and dislikes of various foods at various times...from what
I've read recently, are all brain-activated, based on our bodily
needs for certain minerals and vitamins. Evidently our hypothalmus
part of the brain "knows" what our bodies require and are short on.
This came from a study of men stranded at sea, who consumed not only the raw fish, but their brains told them to eat the heads, eyes, and other normally undesireable parts, for their bodies to absorb certain minerals and vitamins which were required at the time to survive and live. So perhaps our likes and dislikes are more "brain-driven" than taste or flavor....driven.
Hope this helps,
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: just a trival question...beside whether we have the same taste..do we have identical or similar experience when we chew our food in our mouth..like "the feel of food in our mouth"?
The experience of chewy, sticky, crunchy..etc...do we share the same experience?
Answer Hi Rambo,
I again, would have to answer your new question the exact same
way as the previous one. As there is no way to develop or design a test for such a subjective question and subject.
PS...this is actually more of a "biological" question instead of
a popular science question, so perhaps you should direct this same
question to a biologist, chemist, or a medical doctor...just an afterthought.
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA
