Question

How does the discussion of Bartoshuk contribute to the text? A It provides information about one scientist who is learning about taste and educating others. B It shows how she was able to solve the mystery about why her father’s taste receptors changed. C It shows how her own tastes have altered as she has aged and her taste receptors changed. D It provides information about the scientist who got the tongue map removed from textbooks.

Answer 1

Dr. Linda Bartoshuk's discussion enriches the text by revealing her contributions to the field of taste genetics and her role in correcting the misconception of the tongue map in educational materials.

Step-by-step explanation:

The discussion of Dr. Linda Bartoshuk contributes to the text by providing information about a scientist who studies the genetic differences between people regarding taste perception. Dr. Bartoshuk's work, which delves into the realms of genetic taste markers and the implications they have on individual experiences with taste, educates others on how personal genetics play a significant role in taste sensitivity, particularly towards bitterness. This research enlightens us on the existence of 'tasters' and 'non-tasters,' a classification based on the density of papillae and, hence, taste buds on the tongue.

Answering the initial question, option D is the most accurate: It provides information about the scientist who got the tongue map removed from textbooks. Her work challenged and changed our understanding of how taste functions, debunking the widely accepted but incorrect 'tongue map' that suggested different regions of the tongue were responsible for tasting sweet, sour, bitter, or salty flavors exclusively.

Answer 2

C It shows how her own tastes have altered as she has aged and her taste receptors changed.

Step-by-step explanation:

Bartoshuk zeroed in on the tongue's anatomy. She found that people have different numbers of fungiform papillae, with tongue topography ranging from, say, sparse cactus-pocked deserts to lush lawns. To qualify for superstardom, which is a genetically inherited trait, a person has to have wall-to-wall papillae on his or her tongue and also have an ability to readily taste PROP, a bitter synthetic compound also known as as 6-n-propylthiouracil, which is used as a thyroid medication.