Watch | All about the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

A video explainer on the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Updated - October 10, 2021 12:41 am IST

David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian, two U.S.-based scientists, were awarded the  Nobel Prize  in  physiology  or  medicine  for their discovery of the receptors that allow humans to feel temperature and touch. Their work was in the field of somatosensation, that is the ability of specialised organs such as eyes, ears and skin to see, hear and feel.

The Nobel committee said Mr. Julius, 65, used capsaicin, the active component in chilli peppers, to identify the nerve sensors that allow the skin to respond to heat.

Mr. Patapoutian found separate pressure-sensitive sensors in cells that respond to mechanical stimulation, it said.

Read more here .

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.