Taste deficiency for phenylthiocarbamide in Mathur Kayasths community of Hyderabad, A.P.

The ability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) has been investigated in 422 individuals representing both sexes among the Mathur Kayastha community of Hyderabad, A.P. There is a great excess of non-tasters with a high 't' gene frequency (0.76). There is no significant difference between the males and females for the t-gene. It is suggested that the high incidence of non-tasters in Mathurs is possibly due to their Aryan origin or even endogamdus customs.