NHK World's program Science View introduces Associate Professor Yasuka Toda

An Evolutionary Sense of Taste, an episode of the NHK World Science View program scheduled to air on Tuesday, December 23, will feature Associate Professor Yasuka Toda of the School of Life Science and Technology.

The episode will cover an introduction to the functional analysis technology for taste receptors developed by Toda and her team, along with their research findings on the evolution of taste revealed using this technology.

The Science View program showcases cutting-edge research, innovation, and technology being created by Japanese scientists and engineers for global audiences.

Episode information

Episode description

This episode features the functional analysis technology for taste receptors developed by Associate Professor Yasuka Toda and her team, and introduces the evolving story of taste that has been revealed through this technology.

For example, discoveries have shown that, although many birds have lost their sweet taste receptors, hummingbirds and songbirds have acquired the ability for their umami receptors to detect sugars, enabling them to taste nectar.

Furthermore, while primates originally did not perceive glutamate as umami, evidence suggests that in the ancestors of large primates, including humans, the umami receptors evolved to recognize glutamate. This has helped them to enjoy the taste of leaves, an important protein source.

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• An Evolutionary Sense of Taste - Science View | NHK WORLD-JAPAN
• Science View | NHK WORLD-JAPAN
• Yasuka Toda | Science Tokyo Research Information DB - Science and Engineering
• Department of Life Science and Technology, School of Life Science and Technology
• School of Life Science and Technology