http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/listening-pain/201211/the-puzzle-pain
The Puzzle of Pain discusses the idea of pain being both a gift and a curse. Pain is the body's way of telling the mind that something is wrong, dangerous or harming the body and that it needs to be taken care of immediately. If it isn't taken care of, then the pain will either stop, continue or increase in intensity. In the case of Ashlyn, she had a rare genetic disorder that allowed her to not feel pain. She could stick her hand in boiling water and and be unaffected, even though physically, her body is being damaged. Thus, the gene that seems to be regulating pain and is being effected is the SCN9A gene. When mutated, this gene can either cause no pain whatsoever or it can cause chronic pain throughout the body, depending on how it is manipulated. This gene can be the answer to regulating pain for certain patients. This gene, when manipulated correctly, can dampen pain for people suffering with chronic pain. With a different manipulation, this gene could also heighten the effects of pain, which would be beneficial for people suffering from the disorder Ashlyn has, where they cannot feel any pain.
I believe that this research is very beneficial because people suffering from constant chronic pain will be a topic of medical discussion for years to come. People will continue to has these disorders that allow them to feel no pain or makes them feel pain all the time. Therefore, this research is not only extremely relevant but also necessary to enhance the lives of these individuals. However, there are a few problems with this research. One, for example, is about the manipulation of the gene itself. Will this be a permanent mutation, as in will the body be able to correct this mutation in the SCN9A gene once it detects it? Also, how are these researchers able to manipulate the gene to only allow a certain threshold of pain, for both types of patients? How will this mutation control the amount of pain each person is able to experience?
I like the idea of regulating pain but I find it hard to believe that only one gene contributes to painless/painful sensations. Wouldn't there be a mutation in the expression of the neurons that sense or transmit pain? I also feel that if researchers actually pinpointed the gene, they could reproduce the painless feeling in genetically engineered mice. There would first have to be research in mice, then they could proceed to humans. It is interesting though, to think that the under/over expression of certain genes can produce certain phenotypic effects.
ReplyDeletePatrick Ryan
This is very interesting. It reminded me of a case study we from a developmental class I took last year. It was about a girl named Genie who was isolated from society until age 13. She did not develop normally and had many problems. Anyways, I remember in the documentary we watched that she did not know the difference between hot and cold water. If her foster mother told her to turn on the tub, she would fill it with either boiling hot water or icy cold water. She didn't know the difference. I think they had said that since she was never taught the difference between the two. However, I'm wondering if maybe pain is also a relative thing? As in, we experience pain and know it is bad because we have been taught this at a very young age. Genie was never taught that hot water burned and hurt so she did not know the difference. Yes, you can argue that pain is universal and everyone experiences the discomfort, but I think there is also a learned aspect to pain.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article, I am a little skeptical to believe that a single gene can regulate the entire "pain" sensation throughout the body. Based on the knowledge we already know about nociceptors (pain receptors in the PNS that sense damaging stimuli), pain receptors are located throughout the entire body and for those receptors to be shut off or enhanced by one gene manipulation has its own uncertainties. Would the manipulation of this Ashlyn gene be a permanent "fix" to those suffering from chronic pain? or is it possible the changing the gene could have negative, if not deadly consequences?
ReplyDeletePain management is a big medical issue in the United States. If scientist can manipulate a single gene in the human body and allow it to either shut off or turn on the pain sensation there would a vast number of medical patients who could benefit immensely from receiving this kind of treatment. Overall, I would say that I am doubtful that this one gene can influence an entire bodies ability to sense pain. I think it would be interesting to see what scientists and researchers could do with technology that allows them to potentially alter this gene in medical patients suffering from problems in pain management. If this were to be successful, I think it would be ground breaking if we were able to use this technology in a safe and efficient manner in an effort to provide this service in the medical world and to the general public.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with everything that Martijn said. If scientists could effectively “perfect” this manipulation of the SCN9A gene, an immense number of people’s lives could change for the better. Continuing the doubt that one gene has the ability to turn off all pain sensations in the body, I also wonder whether, if successful in this manipulation of the SCN9A gene, scientists could also eventually gauge how much pain perception was affected. Also, I wonder if they would be able to influence the degree to which external pain was felt, versus internal. For example, in those with disorders such as fibromyalgia, would they be able to successfully dampen the extreme internal pain that is felt, without affecting any external perceptions (and warnings to physical threats such as extreme heat or cold)? Only time and research will tell, but I personally think that identifying any gene related to the sensation of pain is a great start.
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