Toomey VM, Nickum EA, Flurer CL September 2012 | dulcis are predominantly sweet but some individual trees produce seeds that are somewhat more bitter |
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"Use of recessive homozygous genotypes to assess genetic control of kernel bitterness in almond" | The origin of cyanide content in bitter almonds is via the of amygdalin |
Extract of bitter almond was once used medicinally but even in small doses, effects are severe or lethal, especially in children; the cyanide must be removed before consumption.
Bitter almonds may yield 4—9 mg of per almond and contain 42 times higher amounts of cyanide than the trace levels found in sweet almonds | A point mutation in a prevents of the two cytochrome P450 genes, resulting in the sweet kernel trait |
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UN Food and Agriculture Organization, Corporate Statistical Database FAOSTAT | The acute oral lethal dose of cyanide for adult humans is reported to be 0 |
Eating such almonds could result in and other typical bitter almond cyanide poisoning effects.