ABSTRACT
Background: Phenylthiocarbamide [PTC] taste sensitivity is a genetically controlled trait. ABO and Rh blood groups are also inherited traits
Objectives: We conducted this study to find out any epistatic relationship between the expression of the PTC-gene and the blood groups genes
Patients and Methods: Among the 739 students, who had given informed consent, 286 were males and 453 were females. Each participant underwent a simple taste test in which a drop of freshly prepared, 0.5% solution of PTC was placed on the dorsum of tongue and participant was asked to mention the taste perceived. After this he/she was asked to spit out the chemical and to rinse the mouth with water. To find out blood groups, we mixed a drop of blood with antisera i-e anti A, anti B and anti D on a glass slide. By examining for agglutination of RBC's, we determined the ABO and Rh blood type of the participants
Results: The percentage of blood group 'A' among the non-tasters is 22.16%. Blood group 'B' is 37.11% 'AB' 9.79%; Blood group 'O' 30.92%, Rh positive blood group 87.11% and Rh-negative blood group 12.89% among the non-tasters. There is no significant [p>0.05] difference between percentages of non-taster males [27.27%] and non-taster females [25.66%]
Conclusion: There is no epistatic relationship between PTC gene and blood group genes in our population