Phenylthiourea (PTC) Test Paper for Genetic Taste Testing [Vial for 100 Paper Strips]

I’m a science teacher. While studying genetics, we did this test as a lab. They loved it! It was a great experiment. Would totally recommend this for an easy lab day and a fun project to do with students. The price is easy on our pockets as well, so will definitely repeat this experiment in the future.

It's a fun little thing and probably works. Neither myself or my fiance had a reaction, but I feel like I'm overly sensitive to bitter things. Either I'm wrong and I'm just THAT picky or these didn't work, but I'd lean towards the former.

Works great! Some reviewers are confusing this with pH strips and giving this a bad review, they're not pH strips! Read the title! This is to test if you have the gene that allows you to taste PTC, a bitter synthetic compound, and that works great; I've tried it with around 20 people. Wonderful for biology or chemistry classes or clubs. Or just to watch your friends try it.

My friends thought it would be fun to try this out because I have such a problem with food. I can’t eat a lot of different food. Ketchup can be spicy to me at times. I bought this and brought it over to my friend’s house. We all grabbed a strip. One by one they put it to their tongue. They said it tasted a little bitter. Gets to me… goodness gracious what did I just put in my mouth????!!! My tongue was completely engulfed in an extremely bitter taste. My friends immediately grabbed for food and drink to help me. My tongue feels like it was burned where the strip touched. The feeling didn’t go away for over an hour. Later that day, my family decided they wanted to try it. Same reaction as my friend. I did it again because why am I the only one??? Same reaction!!! I’m very glad no one else has this reaction in my family and now I know why I can’t eat certain things.

I bought these for genetic taste test to start of my genetics unit with 7th graders. I don’t have the PTC tasting gene so I was unable to verify the potency of the chemical but several of my students made some strange faces when they tested it. In each of my classes about 75% of students (we charted the actual data, one class was below 75%, exactly 75%, and just about 75%) could taste the PTC, which is the common average. I really expected these to not work quite as well because I couldn’t taste the chemical but it’s a good product to have just to help students get acquainted with understanding inherited traits.

I was unable to use the strips because l couldn't open the tube. After l notified the seller, he was prompt to offer suggestions on how to open the bottle. With that help l was able to remove the lid and access the strips. This seller really cares about his customers and l highly recommend him.

I recently tried the Super Taster Test Strips, and I was impressed with how simple and engaging the experience was. The test uses PTC (Phenylthiocarbamide) strips to determine if someone is a "supertaster," a person with heightened sensitivity to certain tastes due to their genetic makeup. It’s an easy and fun way to explore the genetic aspects of taste. The process is very straightforward: you just place a strip on your tongue for 10 seconds. If you experience bitterness, it indicates that you carry the TAS2R38 gene, a genetic trait that makes you a supertaster. This simple test allows you to quickly determine your genetic sensitivity to bitterness, making it a fascinating way to learn about genetics and heredity. What I particularly liked about this kit is its value for group activities. The package includes 100 pre-cut strips, which makes it perfect for classrooms, family gatherings, or group events. It’s both an educational and fun way to explore how genetics can influence taste perception. It’s also ideal for discussions about genetic variation, pedigrees, and phenotypes, making it great for both casual learning and more in-depth educational purposes. The strips themselves are inexpensive, making this a budget-friendly option for anyone curious about their genetic makeup or looking to introduce others to the concept of genetic variation in a hands-on way. 4 out of 5 people in my family tested as super tasters and I believe if you leave these in to long, they taste bitter for everyone. Im a little skeptical they worked right ! Lastly though, they do offer an enjoyable, interactive experience while providing valuable insight into the role genetics plays in our daily lives, especially when it comes to something as common as taste!

If you're looking for these, you already know what they are for. Used for student engagement in a genetics unit and these worked great. Student's loved it, and the results were as expected. I was able to actually cut them in half to spread the stock out. One caveat - be careful to separate them out or you'll end up handing out two at a time. They stick together a bit.