🏆Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2021 goes to David Julius & Ardem Patapoutian for their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch.
Do you take your senses for granted? Have you ever considered how it is that you are able to discern surface textures with your fingertips or feel a hug? Do you know how you know when something is so hot it will burn you? The world around us is experienced by our body but interpreted by our brain. This transformation of outside information to brain signal is often done through proteins in the surface membrane of our cells! Certain cells in your body (particularly in your sensitive areas like fingertips) contain special proteins in their membranes that change shape or function in response to temperature or pressure. When this conformation, or shape change, occurs, an electrochemical signal is sent to your brain to have you feel a certain sensation (rough, hot, cold, etc.)! Isn’t that amazing?
We have scientists like Dr. Julius and Dr. Patapoutian to thank for better understanding how this works. With this information we are able to learn ways to trigger or inhibit the signals – perhaps helping with chronic pain associated with things like burns.