Re: jalapenoes?
The substances responsible for the spicy hotness flavour of the chilli is called capsaicin. Four years ago, Dr. David Julius and associates at the University of California at San Francisco showed that capsaicin goes and sits at one of the taste receptor protein molecules inside our mouth, and generates a sensation of intense heat and some pain. Laboratory studies by Drs. J. R. Mason, L. Clark and associates had shown that capsaicin has the property of repelling or poisoning mammals but not birds. (On an aside, we humans are so quirky. Capsaicin is meant to repel us. Yet we desire it and find vicarious pleasure in eating it, and spicing our food with it. Such acts of living dangerously, or machismo, is a mild form of showing off, or advertising to the opposite sex that you are so strong and healthy that you can withstand such punishing acts. The conclusion you would like drawn out of this is that your genes are superior and that it is worth breeding with you). This selectivity in toxicity has been explained by ecologists as a form of survival strategy termed "directed deterrence". Capsaicin deters animals that tend to eat off the whole fruit-pulp, seed and all. On the other hand, birds eat the fruit and drop off or disperse the seeds. This is precisely what the chilli plant would like {frac12** disperse its seeds so that propagation can occur. If the seed were not dispersed but predated, it is the end of the line for the plant. Directed deterrence operates in a manner that selectively discourages seed predators, and lets beneficial seed dispersers do their job! After all, the function of a fruit is to facilitate seed dispersal. The role of capsaicin may be understood then as a selective deterrent: Mammals no, Birds welcome!
Heh, Shows I can google :)
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