Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of taste buds?

Taste buds are specialized sensory structures responsible for detecting taste stimuli. They are known for being highly sensitive, meaning they can pick up even slight differences in taste substances, which allows for a wide range of flavor detection. Additionally, taste buds can become easily fatigued; prolonged exposure to a specific taste can diminish their responsiveness, which is often why after eating something sweet, for instance, other tastes may seem dulled. Furthermore, taste perception is significantly enhanced by the sense of smell, underscoring the close relationship between these two senses.

In contrast, taste buds do not have a long-lasting characteristic in the sense that they have a relatively short lifespan and are continually renewed. Each taste bud has a limited life span, typically lasting only about 10-14 days, which means they need to be replaced frequently. Therefore, the notion of taste buds being long-lasting does not align with their biological reality. This short turnover indicates that taste buds are designed for rapid adaptation to changes in the environment rather than sustained performance over time.