Even though you may risk hypertension and heart disease but can't do without that extra pinch of salt in your meal blame it on your genes for a gene related to taste pathways could be conspiring against you researchers have found. Salt preferences are related to a DNA sequence variation found on the KCNA5 gene known to be related to taste pathways in mammals the findings showed. 'Genetic variations for taste perception are well known for bitter sweet and umami taste but until now we knew little about their role in salt perception and liking' said Antonietta Robino from University