Researchers have found a genetic link to a sweet tooth. This may explain your craving for sugary treats. Dr. Niessen looks at the latest science with a reminder that you need to brush and floss all teeth including the sweet one.

STORY: SWEET TOOTH GENE

SCRIPT # 518

AIRDATE: Monday, August 11, 2003

Daybreak and Midday

DHC MASTER #18 Timecode: 13:00

Can you really have a “sweet tooth”? In lab experiments, dental researchers

have discovered a gene that makes some mice show a preference for sweet tasting foods.

Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of

Dentistry looks at the latest science involving a so called sweet tooth in today’s Dental Health Check.

SOVT: 1:36

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PEOPLE EATING DONUTS (VOICE-OVER)

If you prefer sweet tastes, it could be

SUPER: Arlington :02-07 an inherited trait. A sweet gene has

been discovered on chromosome number

four. It could account for many people’s

insatiable appetite for foods such as

Crispy Crème donuts.

ON CAMERA (STAND-UPBRIDGE)

SUPER: Dr. Linda Niessen :16-21 We’ve know for quite some time about

Baylor College of Dentistry bitter taste receptors. But only recently have

researchers discovered sweet taste receptors.

SUPER: Dr. Pasquel Mbiene :26-31 (“It has been very clear in genetic studies in

Researcher mice that yes you have a link between the

genes and the behavior towards sweet eating

or sweet absorption.”)

TWO-SHOT Dr. Pasquel Mbiene is a taste researcher.

DR. MBIENE (“We don’t know the link yet between the presence of those receptors and the behavior. This is the next step here.”)

BOY EATING DONUT Cavities have long been linked to a

carbohydrate diet. All sugars and starches are carbohydrates.

Page 2 Sweet Tooth Gene

SUPER: Barbie Allen :59-1:03 (“I love my dessert first. When I open a

Sweet Tooth menu, I always go to the desserts and

see how much calories I want to waste on

a meal. So I can make sure I get exactly what I came for.”)

MORE PEOPLE EATING DONUTS Environment may also play a big role.

The foods you eat as a child are often

the foods you prefer as an adult.

DR. MBIENE (“The presence of the gene doesn’t

determine your behavior. But you are at

risk.”)

ON CAMERA (STAND-UP CLOSE)

So you can inherit a sweet tooth. Just

be sure you always brush and floss it.

For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas

A & M System, I’m Dr. Linda Niessen,

Channel 8 News.