Nerdy Science Blog

There are people who were born without the sense of pain. Apart from not feeling any pain, they look like just every other normal people.

The initial case study was a ten-year-old Pakistani street performer with the ability to put a knive through his arms and walk on burning coal without feeling pain.

Together with this young street performer, researchers were able to identify six other people who also have same ability from three families in the same region.

These people were able to sense the sensation of hot, cold and pressure. Also, they are able to differentiate between sharp or blunt objects by touching.

All without pain.

Researcher have now revealed that the ‘superpower’ is actually a kind of rare gene disorder, caused by a very rare genetic mutation, and had decoded the genetic information successfully.

By studying these individuals, the scientists were able to determine that a mutation in the gene SCN9A causes a loss of function in the voltage-gated sodium channel it encodes (subunit Nav1.7). Sodium channels are proteins which excite neurons, and though the precise function of Nav1.7 is unclear, as part of a sodium channel it would play a role in exciting sensory neurons.
– Science Daily

Through better understanding of how pain works, researchers are now hoping to develop new pain killer with fewer side effects.

Source: Gene Mutation Which Prevents Carriers From Feeling Pain Discovered — Science Daily.

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