Nobel Physiology or Medicine Laureates' Research?..."Unraveling the Principles of Human Touch"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] The 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to Professor David Julius of the University of California and Professor Ardem Patapoutian of the Scripps Research Institute in the United States for their work in elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which the human body senses touch. Rather than achievements such as the discovery of specific disease treatments like mRNA vaccine technology, which had been initially mentioned, the award was praised for staying true to the name of the 'Physiology or Medicine Prize.' It has been pointed out that this serves as a lesson that Korea also needs more long-term talent development and investment in basic and fundamental research.

◇ Discovered the principles of spicy taste, pain, and sensation

This year's laureates were recognized for clarifying how the human body senses touch. Specifically, they revealed the mechanisms by which the body perceives and feels when a finger touches or when an object mechanically stimulates the skin, or when sensing cold or hot temperatures. In particular, Professor Julius gained worldwide attention in 1997 when he published a research paper in the international journal Nature explaining the mechanism by which capsaicin, the main component of chili peppers that produces a spicy sensation, causes the body to feel heat.

Professor Patapoutian was recognized for his focused research on how mechanical stimuli are converted into electrical signals within the body and perceived as sensations. In 2007, he discovered the Piezo1 and Piezo2 molecules that detect mechanical stimuli such as pinching or touching, and published his findings in the international journal Science.

◇ Significantly expanded understanding of 'human physiological phenomena'

The medical community evaluated the selection of these two laureates as most fitting for the name 'Physiology or Medicine Prize.' Many physiological phenomena of the human body remain unknown. By elucidating how humans perceive physical stimuli, temperature, and pain, the two laureates have greatly expanded the breadth of knowledge about the human body.

Professor Han Hee-chul of Korea University College of Medicine explained, "People mistakenly think doctors know a lot about the human body, but in reality, there are many unknowns. How we perceive spicy taste or temperature was a representative example." He added, "Professor Julius identified the receptors in the body that sense temperature and pain, which has led not only to therapeutic applications but also to significant advances in understanding physiological phenomena within the body."

Professor Hwang Sun-wook of Korea University College of Medicine said, "There have been Nobel Prizes awarded for research on the principles of human vision, and among the remaining senses?hearing, touch, taste, and smell?this time the prize was awarded for research on touch." He added, "I believe the reason for the award is that the two laureates competed in research, which enhanced our understanding of how the body senses temperature, pain, and mechanical stimuli."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.