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Scientists Find Genetic Mutation That Makes Women Feel No Pain (theguardian.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: Doctors have identified a new mutation in a woman who is barely able to feel pain or stress after a surgeon who was baffled by her recovery from an operation referred her for genetic testing. Jo Cameron, 71, has a mutation in a previously unknown gene which scientists believe must play a major role in pain signaling, mood and memory. The discovery has boosted hopes of new treatments for chronic pain which affects millions of people globally.
In a case report published on Thursday in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, the UCL team describe how they delved into Cameron's DNA to see what makes her so unusual. They found two notable mutations. Together, they suppress pain and anxiety, while boosting happiness and, apparently, forgetfulness and wound healing. The first mutation the scientists spotted is common in the general population. It dampens down the activity of a gene called FAAH. The gene makes an enzyme that breaks down anandamide, a chemical in the body that is central to pain sensation, mood and memory. Anandamide works in a similar way to the active ingredients of cannabis. The less it is broken down, the more its analgesic and other effects are felt.
The second mutation was a missing chunk of DNA that mystified scientists at first. Further analysis showed that the "deletion" chopped the front off a nearby, previously unknown gene the scientists named FAAH-OUT. The researchers think this new gene works like a volume control on the FAAH gene. Disable it with a mutation like Cameron has and FAAH falls silent. The upshot is that anandamide, a natural cannabinoid, builds up in the system. Cameron has twice as much anandamide as those in the general population.
In a case report published on Thursday in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, the UCL team describe how they delved into Cameron's DNA to see what makes her so unusual. They found two notable mutations. Together, they suppress pain and anxiety, while boosting happiness and, apparently, forgetfulness and wound healing. The first mutation the scientists spotted is common in the general population. It dampens down the activity of a gene called FAAH. The gene makes an enzyme that breaks down anandamide, a chemical in the body that is central to pain sensation, mood and memory. Anandamide works in a similar way to the active ingredients of cannabis. The less it is broken down, the more its analgesic and other effects are felt.
The second mutation was a missing chunk of DNA that mystified scientists at first. Further analysis showed that the "deletion" chopped the front off a nearby, previously unknown gene the scientists named FAAH-OUT. The researchers think this new gene works like a volume control on the FAAH gene. Disable it with a mutation like Cameron has and FAAH falls silent. The upshot is that anandamide, a natural cannabinoid, builds up in the system. Cameron has twice as much anandamide as those in the general population.
He's back in the game!
What I take away from this is yet again, scientific proof that cannabinoid's are good for us. These helpful substances however are banned from our consumption. Thanks, government racist morons!
Since obviously we cannot have nice things we will instead be oppressed by super soldiers incapable of feeling pain or even remorse. Humanity is only good at one thing, and that is turning anything and everything into a weapon.
I think everyone should try to get a refferal for genetic testing,
Who knows what other sorts of special genes are out in the population.
Imagine how much we could learn just from a simple database like that,
If the testing was done more commonly it could be a treasure-trove,
Easy - G G
n/t
smell too and we can finally set up a date for creimer
I didn't realize whiskey was a genetic mutation...
#DeleteChrome
Isn't this part of the plot of the "Girl with the dragon tattoo" books? Only it's a man, not a woman with the immunity from pain.
The real "Libtards" are the Libertarians!
...staying single
Table-ized A.I.
Slashdot has been going to shit for a while, it got real dumbass political for a while also, and now it is complete shit.
it is called child birth and they are so much more a bad ass than you will ever be. :P
think of all the wonderful uses.
Isn't pain necessary? The woman cuts her foot while walking on the beach and doesn't feel anything. She is heavily bleeding, and keeps smiling because she doesn't feel stress either.
Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
Within the first quote we find out she's vegan.
High pain threshold.
The sources say that a specific woman has been identified as having a genetic mutation that affects her pain response and (from the Guardian):
"Cameron’s mother felt pain normally, as does her daughter. But her son, who carries the second and more important mutation, has a dulled sense of pain. He never takes painkillers and frequently scalds his mouth with hot drinks and food. Scientists suspect that Cameron’s father may have passed the mutation on to her."
Slashdot mutates that in its headline about something that specifically makes women (plural) feel no pain.
I know I know. Really bad joke. But someone has to make it to establish the bounds of freedom in our fake democracy.
slashdot readers?
it's called the methamphetamine/cocaine gene lol
She's high and happy like all the time?
This doesn't sounds at all unusual to most of us!
I've heard years ago of a disorder that causes people to be unable to feel pain. Often times they end up at a hospital due to chewing their tongues off while eating steak, or burning themselves on a hot surface as a child. Don't recall the name/cause of the disorder, perhaps this simply identified the cause of it.
Corruption is convincing someone that the selfless ideal is the same as their selfish ideal.
Is there anything in the article to suggest that it's sex-linked? Or is just the usual competence & thoroughness we've come to expect from DohH1B?
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
pfft the nerve: and they want to be treated as equal! :D:D
Is it similar to the one WindBourne has that makes him feel no shame?
Fahh out man
If by few you mean every individual, then yes....
Now tell us about her life. How did it affect the 71 years of her life?
E Proelio Veritas.
If it "is common in the general population" then why is it considered a mutation? Mutation infers abnormality or uniqueness. At some point it has to stop being a mutation and simply be normal.
Better known as 318230.
In a SJW crossover issue,
snowflakes line up to feel no pain-- they would rather be mutants
Horrible editing. Come on /. even I know the headline is wrong, and English is not my first language.
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
"The upshot is that anandamide, a natural cannabinoid, builds up in the system. Cameron has twice as much anandamide as those in the general population."
IOW the bitch has been high as a kite all her life.
I guess for a teacher that helps.
Just 2 days to go. FAAH OUT man!
from an email I got yesterday: "Henrietta Lacks, a poor--and consequently poorly educated--black woman who had pieces of her cervical cancer tumor taken without her consent. Those cells lived on, and on, and on, spawning a multi-billion dollar industry. . ."
Ms Lacks got nothing from this research; wasn't even informed of it. Others built reputations and fortunes.
Now we have "Jo Cameron, 71, has a mutation in a previously unknown gene. . ." Her DNA happens to be interesting to scientists. Research will be funded by drug companies and taxpayers. Someone will secure patents as a result and an industry will be born that is potentially hugely profitable. Fortunes will be made. But by whom?
Will Jo Cameron get any of that money? How about the universities or drug companies or taxpayers who participated in the research? How about the interns who do 90% of the research that is credited to their professors? Who decides these things and what ethics are involved?
...omphaloskepsis often...
Further analysis showed that the "deletion" chopped the front off a nearby, previously unknown gene the scientists named FAAH-OUT.
Hmm, is it April 1st where this was posted from or what?
This gene pairs well with the lesser known GRO-VY.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Are we finally on the path to Soma? No more pain, no more stress.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
soon to be found in all kinds of sports as the next level of doping.
imagine being able to do some sports without feeling any pain or feeling tired.
it's very dangerous, yes! but the amount of danger never stopped them before.
On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero.