a chemical compound that has a bitter taste depending on whether the individual who tastes it has a particular gene, with the compound having no taste to an individual who does not have the gene
phenylthiourea in American English
(ˌfenlˌθaioujuˈriə, -ˈjuriə, -ˌfin-)
noun
Biochemistry
a crystalline, slightly water-soluble solid, C6H5NHCSNH2, that is either tasteless or bitter, depending upon the heredity of the taster, and is used in medical genetics and as a diagnostic
Also called: phenylthiocarbamide (ˌfenlˌθaioukɑːrˈbæmaid, -ɪd, -ˈkɑːrbəˌmaid, -mɪd, ˌfin-)
Word origin
[1895–1900; phenyl + thiourea]This word is first recorded in the period 1895–1900. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: apothecaries' measure, backstage, calling card, hit-and-run, neon