Final answer:
The probability that a homozygous non-taster's child will taste PTC depends on the other parent's genotype, which was not provided. If the other parent can taste PTC, there is a chance the child will inherit this ability, but an exact probability cannot be determined without additional information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability to taste PTC (phenylthiocarbamide), a compound associated with the bitterness of vegetables like Brussels sprouts, is an example of incomplete dominance in genetics. If a parent is homozygous non-taster (meaning they have two copies of the non-tasting allele), then their ability to taste PTC is absent or significantly reduced. A child's ability to taste PTC will depend on the alleles they inherit from both parents.
In the scenario provided, the child's other parent is not mentioned, but since the question asks about the probability of the child being able to taste bitter compounds, we must assume the other parent has at least one allele that permits PTC tasting. If the other parent can taste PTC (either heterozygous or homozygous dominant), there will be some possibility of the child inheriting the tasting allele and therefore being able to taste bitter compounds to some degree.
However, without information about the other parent's genotype, we cannot determine an exact probability. But if we assume the other parent is heterozygous for the trait, then the child would have a 50% chance of being a taster, since they would have a 1:1 likelihood of inheriting the taster versus non-taster allele from that parent.
The final answer cannot be determined with the information given. With additional data about the second parent's genotype, a more accurate probability could be provided. Thus, in a two-line explanation in 300 words: Without knowledge of the second parent's PTC tasting alleles, we cannot calculate the exact probability that the child will be able to taste bitter compounds. If the other parent can taste PTC, there's a chance the child will inherit the ability, but the precise probability requires more genetic information.