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No pain, all gain?
» By Louis Taylor
One thing most of us all share is the knowledge and understanding of what physical pain feels like. For the majority of us, pain, as a concept is something that we don’t spare a great deal of thought to; if you graze your arm, it hurts for a bit, eventually the pain subsides. However, for certain scientists, how pain is experienced makes for fascinating study and in the understanding of this, gives the potential to unlock new methods of treatment and pain relief.
The idea then, that a person could feel pain in an incredibly different way to others, or feel no pain at all seems bizarre. Around the world there are clusters of individuals who hold the clue to one of science’s greatest mysteries; it can last a matter of seconds; stay with us for years or be something certain people are oblivious to. The geneticist Dr. John Woods travels the world in search of people who feel pain in unconventional ways, with the ambition to unlock one of life’s complex unknowns. During his studies he came across an Italian family, the Marcilies, who share an unusual trait that runs three generations through their family. This bizarre characteristic enables the family to expose themselves to extreme temperatures and not undergo any sort of pain. After two years of studying the family, Dr. Woods came to the conclusion that the family share a genetic mutation, which blocks the pathway to certain types of pain. This unique syndrome, gave many geneticists an idea into how pain worked and that the key to understanding it lies within our DNA.
Hundreds of genes shape how our pain system works and it is believed by geneticists that the secret to understanding the Marcilies lies within the thousands of neurones that lead from our bodies to our brain. Closer to home, a team from the University of Cambridge, assisted by external geneticists have been studying an extremely remarkable individual, in order to look deeper into the exact detail of our pain system. May Link discovered her extraordinary ability as a child when, imitating a children’s book character, she jumped from the roof of her garage using an umbrella as a parachute. Despite breaking her legs, May Link decided to attempt the jump again, oblivious to the damage she was causing. A month later it was discovered that she had broken her legs, which brought light to the fact she had no concept of pain, as she never felt it before.
The DNA of May Link and the Marcilies family was analysed and compared with the general population to look for differences; this revealed that their unique characteristics where caused by a mutation in one single gene, SCN9A, a gene essential for pain perception, but not critically involved in other systems in the body. The gene regulated the electrical signals, which transmit the sensation of pain to the brain. In May Lin this particular gene is faulty, explaining how she feels no pain, yet it is still affected by touch and other important senses. The understanding of this shows the obscurity behind pain thresholds and the ability to numb pain. Therefore, in a rather ironic way, understanding those who feel no pain opens many medical doors into curing those suffering from chronic pain. The crippling sensation of feeling in constant pain, coupled with the anxieties of trying to maintain a happy family life in the shadow of this pain, mean that research into this area could be life changing for society.
This pain then extends past the sufferer to the family, to society as a whole and even further, causing a significant strain on the health system.
Despite these positive developments, pain will remain a fact of life for many. No matter how far science evolves, this is an itch they just can’t be properly scratched. Perhaps we have no choice but to continue living alongside pain. But perhaps we can look forward to a future in which we can manage pain more effectively?
The idea then, that a person could feel pain in an incredibly different way to others, or feel no pain at all seems bizarre. Around the world there are clusters of individuals who hold the clue to one of science’s greatest mysteries; it can last a matter of seconds; stay with us for years or be something certain people are oblivious to. The geneticist Dr. John Woods travels the world in search of people who feel pain in unconventional ways, with the ambition to unlock one of life’s complex unknowns. During his studies he came across an Italian family, the Marcilies, who share an unusual trait that runs three generations through their family. This bizarre characteristic enables the family to expose themselves to extreme temperatures and not undergo any sort of pain. After two years of studying the family, Dr. Woods came to the conclusion that the family share a genetic mutation, which blocks the pathway to certain types of pain. This unique syndrome, gave many geneticists an idea into how pain worked and that the key to understanding it lies within our DNA.
Hundreds of genes shape how our pain system works and it is believed by geneticists that the secret to understanding the Marcilies lies within the thousands of neurones that lead from our bodies to our brain. Closer to home, a team from the University of Cambridge, assisted by external geneticists have been studying an extremely remarkable individual, in order to look deeper into the exact detail of our pain system. May Link discovered her extraordinary ability as a child when, imitating a children’s book character, she jumped from the roof of her garage using an umbrella as a parachute. Despite breaking her legs, May Link decided to attempt the jump again, oblivious to the damage she was causing. A month later it was discovered that she had broken her legs, which brought light to the fact she had no concept of pain, as she never felt it before.
The DNA of May Link and the Marcilies family was analysed and compared with the general population to look for differences; this revealed that their unique characteristics where caused by a mutation in one single gene, SCN9A, a gene essential for pain perception, but not critically involved in other systems in the body. The gene regulated the electrical signals, which transmit the sensation of pain to the brain. In May Lin this particular gene is faulty, explaining how she feels no pain, yet it is still affected by touch and other important senses. The understanding of this shows the obscurity behind pain thresholds and the ability to numb pain. Therefore, in a rather ironic way, understanding those who feel no pain opens many medical doors into curing those suffering from chronic pain. The crippling sensation of feeling in constant pain, coupled with the anxieties of trying to maintain a happy family life in the shadow of this pain, mean that research into this area could be life changing for society.
This pain then extends past the sufferer to the family, to society as a whole and even further, causing a significant strain on the health system.
Despite these positive developments, pain will remain a fact of life for many. No matter how far science evolves, this is an itch they just can’t be properly scratched. Perhaps we have no choice but to continue living alongside pain. But perhaps we can look forward to a future in which we can manage pain more effectively?