@...@According to new research from the Monell Center, cats have at least seven functional bitter taste receptors// Further, a comparison of cat to related species with differing dietary habits reveals that there does not appear to be a strong relationship between the number of bitter receptors and the extent to which a species consumed plants in its diet// The findings question the common hypothesis that bitter taste developed primarily to protect animals from ingesting poisonous plant compounds//
**Alternate physiological roles for bitter receptors may be an important driving force molding bitter receptor number and function// For example, recent Monell~related findings show that bitter receptors also are involved in protecting us against internal toxins, including bacteria related to respiratory diseases,** said study author Gary Beauchamp, PhD, a behavioral biologist at Monell//
@...@Scientists speculate that the sense of taste evolved so animals could make the critical decision of whether a potential food is nutritionally advantageous or possibly harmful// For example, sweet taste is believed to signal the presence of sugars, an important source of energy// Similarly, scientists have long assumed that bitter taste evolved as a defense mechanism to detect potentially harmful toxins commonly found in plants//