Poor kitties (and other carnivorous mammals). It turns out that evolution has taken away their ability to taste sweets!
When it comes to the evolution vs. intelligent design debate, there are many studies that have been shown to support the fact that evolution has occurred.
A recent study from the Monell Chemical Senses Center suggests that after humans diverged from our ancestors, many mammals lost some of their tasting ability. In this study, they analyzed DNA from 12 species of carnivorous mammals and found that seven of them had completely nonfunctional versions of the genes that allow us to taste and appreciate sweets. So whenever you try to slip your cat some sweets, don't even bother because they can't even enjoy them!
When it comes to the evolution vs. intelligent design debate, there are many studies that have been shown to support the fact that evolution has occurred.
A recent study from the Monell Chemical Senses Center suggests that after humans diverged from our ancestors, many mammals lost some of their tasting ability. In this study, they analyzed DNA from 12 species of carnivorous mammals and found that seven of them had completely nonfunctional versions of the genes that allow us to taste and appreciate sweets. So whenever you try to slip your cat some sweets, don't even bother because they can't even enjoy them!
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| This is cute. But kitties can't taste sweetness =[ |
This concept of loss of function in animals was discussed in Darwins Origin of Species. In the book, Darwin talked about loss of
vision observed in animals that live in darkness, which is the case in termites. He emphasized that evolution is not a particular strategy for improvement but rather it's more of living animals adapting to survival in their environments, and traits that are no longer necessary can be lost. It makes sense that carnivorous mammals have lost their ability to taste sweets because you don't need to be able to taste sweets when you're not eating plants (sweetness helps distinguish between toxic and nutritious plants).
To the dog-owners reading this, don't fret. Dogs can still taste sweets. But it's probably only a matter of time before evolution knocks that trait out. Until then, companies will continue to pump starch and sweets into their dog foods to keep you, and your dog, coming back for more.
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| This dog loves his sweets! |
So clearly this study supports the fact that evolution has occurred...and so the support for evolution goes on...
Read the article here: Major taste loss in carnivorous mammals
-Rachael Morris
Read the article here: Major taste loss in carnivorous mammals
-Rachael Morris
Hmm..I wonder if this is why cats seem to have more discriminating tastes and are less likely to eat table scarps than dogs. Interesting post
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that cats can't taste sweet things. It's interesting to compare this to humans, who have evolved to crave or especially enjoy sugar and fats because these were the best sources of energy for our ancestors. I doubt that we'll ever lose these tastes like cats did, though modern problems of obesity could be partially blamed on this evolutionary effect. - Hayley Hemstreet
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! I think it's really telling that only carnivorous mammals lost their sense of sweetness in taste. For omnivorous mammals, it was so important to be able to taste sugars in fruits, etc. that we evolved into desiring sugars. Of course, as Hayley mentioned, that brought us into our current dilemma with obesity. At any rate, it's cool to note that it was only carnivorous mammals who lost the trait.
ReplyDeleteNeat stuff. In all fairness though, this would only indicate that evolution was occurring if the loss in functionality of the gene was in response to a change in fitness wouldn't it? And I can't imagine being able to test sweet things would've been disadvantageous for carnivores...
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, since meat isn't sweet, the gene to be able to taste sweetness would've been neutral, meaning genetic drift could've gotten rid of it?
This is definitely an interesting post. I never realized cats couldn't taste sweet things. It's good dogs still can, because my mom has definitely been roped into buying birthday cakes and cookies for my dogs...
ReplyDeleteLike Amy, I think it's really interesting that carnivorous mammals lost their ability to sense sweets. It definitely makes sense in light of the fact that sweetness can indicate the toxicity of a plant.