Gene Map of Pain Receptors Developed

Examining Flies leads to Discoveries about Pain in Genes

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Professor Josef Penninger analyzed the 14,000 genes in a fruit fly, and identified a select 580 that were involved in heat perception. Then, scientists were able to identify 400 equivalent genes in humans. By comparing the two sets of data (from the fly and form the human), scientists identified a specific molecular signaling in the pain network that involved phospholipids.This mapping of the pain perception gene network is significant, because it allows scientists to develop new analgesic drugs to treat pain in the future. They are able to do this, because they know what regions of the brain to target more specifically. Also noted was the exceptional way in which species have evolved, but kept the same pain signaling pathways in tact over generations.

I found this article to be interesting, because in 12th grade I watched a video about pain and how it is all a mental reaction to changes in the physical body. The video discussed how people could train themselves to isolate the pain/ eradicate it, and since then, pain has been an interesting subject of study for me. Also the idea of being able to prevent pain because of genetic and mental components is intriguing.