Film at 11: Desiring machines have a biological substrate.

The desiring machines in the news want chocolate—but I’m sure there are other desiring machines that desire other things.

From the abstract at the Journal of Proteome Research (PDF)

Human metabolic phenotypes link directly to specific dietary preferences in healthy individuals
Sunil Kochhar and colleagues at the Nestle Research Center (Switzerland) and Imperial College London set out to distinguish the two populations at the molecular level. The team developed a novel approach they call “nutrimetabonomics” to correlate metabolic phenotypes with a behavioral phenotype—namely, an affinity for rich, creamy chocolate.

Upon statistical analysis, the plasma metabolic profiles of those who desired chocolate could be distinguished from those who were indifferent to its charms.

All of these findings point to differences between the two groups in the functionality of gut microflora.

Bacteria that crave chocolate. I wonder if somebody did a study on fast food or soda, what they would find? Anybody remember The Space Merchants?  Read more