Sensing heat: On 2021 Nobel for Physiology or Medicine

What is the news?  

This year Nobel prize for Physiology or Medicine has been awarded for the discovery of mechanism through which our body perceives temperature and pressure. 

Read more – Explained: Nobel Prize in Medicine 2021 

Significance of the discovery 

Our ability to sense touch and temperature, particularly harmful temperature (too high or too low) determines, how to interact with our internal or external environment.  

The discovery of pain receptors and the cellular mechanism have attracted pharmaceutical companies as these could be targets for novel medicines. 

Further research will help in understanding the functions of the receptors in a “variety of physiological processes and to develop treatments for a wide range of disease conditions”. 

Source: This post is based on the article “Sensing heat: On 2021 Nobel for Physiology or Medicine” published in The Hindu on 07th October 2021.