Thinner volunteers were found to be more likely to carry the protective form of the gene, while the other version was more common in obese people.

BBC: NEWS | Health | Gene that makes you eat too much

And a study last year showed that supertasters were better able to fend off some bacterial sinus infections than people who have normal tasting abilities, perhaps because of a protective ability afforded by the supertaster gene.

WSJ: People Who Taste Too Much

Without such a protective drug, women who have the gene can either watch and wait or have their breasts removed as a preventive measure.

FORBES: Old Breast Cancer Drug Brings in New Money