The concept of touch and the mystery of how it is felt has always been a mystery in the scene of neuroscience. However, biologists at The Scripps Research Institute have identified a protein that brings about touch in mammals. Earlier in April 2014, TSRI was also the first to identify the dual-sensor system and nerve-touch sensation through relation to Merkel cells revealed by the supporting article. Last year, the same scientists discovered ion-channeled proteins Piezo1 and Piezo2 through studying its effects on mice. This year, they discover that only Piezo2 is the primary protein that when activated in Merkel cells, sends the feeling of touch through the nervous system. During the current study, they note that when Piezo2 protein is removed from newly bred mice (by deleting the gene!), all mice died at birth. However, when Piezo2 is removed during an adult stage of the mice's life, the mice is almost incapable of feeling light touches but still able to feel harsher pains through observation of reactions.
I found these articles interesting because I love any science that deals with the 5 senses because of the science involved that produce these sensations and now can come closer to understanding human existence. This neuroscience study included parts where scientists actually removed a whole protein gene from the mice which I found was interesting. The concept of touch can now be applied to how light and other sensations felt by touch can now be studied through these Piezo2 ion channels. I cannot wait for the next big discovery TSRI has to offer.
I find this article to be very interesting because while I touch things everyday, I had no idea how the mechanics of touching something actually work. It is cool how the Piezo2 gene actually allows organisms to feel the sensation of touch by sending a signal through the nervous system. It is also interesting that if the Piezo2 gene is removed from an organism before birth, that organism will die.
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