MarioB.
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 Posted: 12/18/06 - 11:29 Post subject: Families found with pain-killing genetic mutations that had |
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A rare genetic defect had been found in three related families living in Pakistan. Their members had an unusual inherited disorder and were unable to experience any kind of pain.
Although they were not able to feel the pain, these people were still able to feel other sensations like touch, the difference between warm and cold, and pressure.
Scientists are hoping that this finding will lead to development of new and safer analgesic drugs. They are hoping to create drugs that would block the same biological pathway affected by the gene mutation in the Pakistani families.
The scientists studied six people who had never experienced any pain at any time in their lives. However, because of the inability to feel any pain they suffered frequent injuries like wounds to their lips and tongues, fractures or bone infections, or burns caused by sitting on radiators.
The research determined that this loss of pain was caused by a mutation in the gene known as SCN9A, which plays a role in exciting sensory nerves.
They say that this finding is important as it was finding the morphine receptors.
In the past, there have been few cases of people who appeared to have a lifelong inability to feel pain. |
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