Bartovation Super Taster Test Genetics Lab Kit with Instructions, Phenylthiourea (PTC), Sodium Benzoate [Each Vial Includes 100 Paper Strips]

Excellent set for demonstrating the genetics of taste. Sometimes in classes and public science performances, I use only PTC paper because of limited time. Those are the most useful strips if you have time for just a little demo. But if you have time to talk about the scientific method a bit, the plain papers and the sodium benzoate make nice controls to compare with PTC and Thiourea and to discuss what's the difference between "controls" and "experimentals."Also - the set is well packaged and well labeled. Do be careful though (!) because the strips are visually absolutely identical (!!), so once they leave their tubes, you can't tell them apart without tasting them. This is a GOOD THING, not a criticism at all, because you don't want audience to have clues other than taste, but you do have to be careful with how you hand them out. I either do so one tube at a time, keeping other tubes securely closed, or I put them on separate dishes where they can not accidentally mix, or I attach them to post-it notes in order so they can't slide around.Nice product. I will buy it again.

While the supplies are more than ample for lower levels, any biology or chemistry teacher with a full load and large classes will need to buy at least two kits to cover all of their students.I used this as a supplemental lab for honors classes.

While this kit does not have all of the types of tasting, and the included lab could use a re-write to make it a bit more academic, the kit gave me exactly what I needed for my classroom to teach on genetics and tasting.Recommend it for an introductory lab, just have some water nearby... if you can taste the Thiourea, you will want a drink fast :D

Worked perfectly in class. Having the control with the 3 tests was absolutely necessary. Includes a very brief explanation of the thiourea and PTC tasting but no info on the sodium benzoate tasting genetics.

Each tube has 100 strips and I have over a hundred students. I cut the strips so I can get 5 blocks from 1 strip, that way the strips can last longer and I have students who want to try to taste it again.PTC - bitter, or nothingThiourea - bitter, sweet, or nothingSodium Benzoate - bitter, sweet, salty, or nothingThe thiourea can be so bitter, it can set kids off gagging. However, for students that try it and it tastes sweet/sour, they describe it like sour patch kids. I usually reserve this strip for my more adventurous students. I personally cannot taste it.

I don't know if we got a bunk batch or if the 7 people we had do this with us really have that bland of a palette.

Always wanted to check my suspension on being a super taster. Always been able to taste more than others can. My bf and I both tried it without knowing what we were given he couldn't taste anything kther than paper while I'm over that tasting all and then freaking out with the bitter one haha. It definitely works would be a great experiment to do with the kids and get to understand why yall may dislike other things

My 7 year old grandson wondered why his taste in foods was so different from his twin brother. So it became his science fair project. The whole family sat down one evening after dinner and did blind testing...the results were surprising. The twin brother that eats anything noticed almost no difference in the taste of the various papers....my daughter reacted fairly strongly to 2 of the test strips and I reacted strongly to only 1. But the questioning twins taste buds reacted very strongly to all but the control paper. We have a Supertaster AND a Non Taster in our family.