extra large. You discovered the molecule that makes us feel touch. tell me about her…
Associated Press , When you feel the cool breeze on your face, you are feeling many things: the temperature of the air, the rubbing of the body hair, the tension on the skin… There must be some mechanism that allows us to control these sensations. similar to how the photoreceptors in the eyes capture light. It took us years to find those sensors.
“We relied on opiates, but they have so many side effects because they affect the brain’s central processing” extra large. Why is touch called the most mysterious of the five senses?
Associated Press Because it’s more complicated than we think. For example, when you eat food, the feeling of being full is also due to these molecules. And they also control blood pressure. Indeed, touch appears in the sixth sense, proprioception, which can be considered the most important. And this is a great unknown to the public.
extra large. I confess that he is also a stranger to me.
Associated Press Close your eyes and touch your nose.
extra large. Complete. this is easy…
Associated Press It’s easy on you because you know where your nose and fingers are at all times, thanks to those sensors. You have a mental image of your body in space. And it helps him to sit, get up, walk, play an instrument… you can’t turn it off, like you close your eyes with your sight. There are people who lack that understanding and walk in a wheelchair.
extra large. You check the communication between cells. Tell me, do cells lie?
Associated Press Continuously! Vision deceives us. The trompe are l’oils. And eyewitnesses often tell different versions of the same event. Our ocular system has a blind spot, and the brain fills it in based on the information that reaches it, which is not always reliable.
“In 2002 we identified a molecule that detects cell damage. Now a drug against back pain that blocks that molecule is being tested. It’s been 20 years” extra large. And cells keep secrets?
Associated Press Yes, our consciousness has evolved to focus only on the essentials. There are many other actions that are unconscious, because if you have to be mindful of them, it will be a distraction. The notion that your bladder is full is conscious because you need to know when to go to the bathroom. But those same neurons control blood pressure, like a thermostat, without us noticing.
extra large. You do basic research, but you’re paving the way for new treatments.
Associated Press accurate. It gets involved when we see a potential application in the academia, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. But it takes time. In 2002 we identified a molecule that detects cell damage. A back pain drug is currently being tested that blocks that molecule. 20 years have passed.
extra large. Their working style is systematic. Take the genes one by one and check whether they are activated by the change in pressure. Where do you find inspiration when things don’t go well?
Associated Press You have to be very persevering to be successful in science. But you also have to be minimalist. You can’t take all 20,000 genes and test them. You have to narrow the search guided by your criteria on the people with the most prospects. You leave about 300 candidates… From there, it’s a matter of luck.
“Many people associate Lebanese with a terrorist. If you are a refugee, you compete with one hand tied behind your back” extra large. Today there are many youths who are questioning his professional career. They call it the ‘Great Resignation’. Do you see it around you?
Associated Press What I see is that there are very few people who are willing to invest the best years of their lives in a lot of hard work. Being a scientist is like being a Hollywood actor. You prepare for it in uncertainty. You don’t know whether you will become a star or not. Meanwhile, you have to make a living as a waiter.
extra large. He has a teenage son. What advice does he give you?
Associated Press Like most teenagers, he often teases his father. We talked about what success is about: External validation is important, but it’s more important to do something you love and try to do it as often as possible.
extra large. He left his native country forcing the war. What has been given to you as a refugee and what has it taken away from you?
Associated Press What it gives you is flexibility. It takes away from you that you compete with one hand tied behind your back. English is not my first language. Many Americans associate Lebanese with terrorists. I haven’t even worn mine for years resume who had completed one year at the University of Beirut. It was hard for me to feel proud of my origin: my family belongs to the Armenian minority in Lebanon. But I found my tribe in scientists.
