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In nearly all human populations a majority of individuals can taste the artificially synthesized chemical phenyl-thio-carbonide (PTC). However, the percentage varies dramatically--from as low as 60% in India too as high as 95% in Africa. That this polymorphism is observed in non-human primates as well indicates a long evolutionary history which, although obviously not acting on PTC, might reflect evolutionary selection for taste discrimination of other, more significant bitter substances, such as certain toxic plants.
A somewhat more puzzling human poly-morphism is the genetic variability in earwax, or cerumen, which is observed in two varieties. Among European populations, 90% of individuals have a sticky yellow variety rather than a dry, grey one, whereas in northern China these numbers are approximately the reverse. Perhaps like PTC variability, cerumen variability is an incidental expression of something more adaptively significant. Indeed, the observed relationship between cerumen and odorous bodily secretions, to which non-human primates and, to a lesser extent, humans, pay attention suggests that during the course of human evolution genes affecting body secretions, including cerumen, came under the selective influence.