The genetics of tasting in mice: III. Quinine

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Abstract
SUMMARY: Twenty-nine strains of mice were tested for their ability to taste a 0·8 mM solution of quinine sulphate. There were large strain differences, some strains (tasters) showing a strong aversion to the quinine and other strains (non-tasters) showing very little aversion. It was shown that the difference between strains 129/Sv and A2G is probably due to one gene. By using the CXB RI strains it was also shown that the difference between C57BL/6By and BALB/cBy is probably due to one gene. It is suggested that both differences may be due to the same gene, named Qui. In the progeny of a backcross involving both Soa and Qui there was evidence of an interaction between the genes which cannot be explained satisfactorily. Learning behaviour by the mice influenced their drinking habits, but this did not invalidate the results.