good morning everyone I’m really happy to be here like my introduction said my
to be here like my introduction said my
to be here like my introduction said my name is dr. Tom Taylor Clark and I want
name is dr. Tom Taylor Clark and I want
name is dr. Tom Taylor Clark and I want to tell you a story about how squirrels
to tell you a story about how squirrels
to tell you a story about how squirrels and chili and birds taught us something
and chili and birds taught us something
and chili and birds taught us something about pain but first let’s start off
about pain but first let’s start off
about pain but first let’s start off with something really simple
with something really simple
with something really simple how many senses do humans have anyone
how many senses do humans have anyone
how many senses do humans have anyone want to say okay there how many senses
want to say okay there how many senses
want to say okay there how many senses do we have I’m sorry five good that’s
do we have I’m sorry five good that’s
do we have I’m sorry five good that’s what we teach our children and that’s
what we teach our children and that’s
what we teach our children and that’s all well and good but of course what we
all well and good but of course what we
all well and good but of course what we teach our children is rarely the whole
teach our children is rarely the whole
teach our children is rarely the whole truth and so actually scientists have
truth and so actually scientists have
truth and so actually scientists have worked out the humans have many more
worked out the humans have many more
worked out the humans have many more senses than just five we’re all familiar
senses than just five we’re all familiar
senses than just five we’re all familiar with sight and hearing taste touch and
with sight and hearing taste touch and
with sight and hearing taste touch and smell however you all have other senses
smell however you all have other senses
smell however you all have other senses an example of a sense that is not
an example of a sense that is not
an example of a sense that is not described by those five senses as a
described by those five senses as a
described by those five senses as a sense of balance or a sense of
sense of balance or a sense of
sense of balance or a sense of temperature you know when something is
temperature you know when something is
temperature you know when something is cold or it’s warm this is another sense
cold or it’s warm this is another sense
cold or it’s warm this is another sense a great sense and an example that we can
a great sense and an example that we can
a great sense and an example that we can all do now if we all do an experiment is
all do now if we all do an experiment is
all do now if we all do an experiment is something a sense called proprioception
something a sense called proprioception
something a sense called proprioception and this allows us to know where our
and this allows us to know where our
and this allows us to know where our joints are now this is a test that maybe
joints are now this is a test that maybe
joints are now this is a test that maybe some of the adults in the audience of
some of the adults in the audience of
some of the adults in the audience of done before where you close your eye and
done before where you close your eye and
done before where you close your eye and with your hand out you can touch the tip
with your hand out you can touch the tip
with your hand out you can touch the tip of your nose now how can you do that if
of your nose now how can you do that if
of your nose now how can you do that if you can’t see your finger well you can
you can’t see your finger well you can
you can’t see your finger well you can do that because you sense through
do that because you sense through
do that because you sense through sensors in your joints and your muscles
sensors in your joints and your muscles
sensors in your joints and your muscles and your skin where your bones are and
and your skin where your bones are and
and your skin where your bones are and therefore you can direct your limbs in
therefore you can direct your limbs in
therefore you can direct your limbs in the correct direction this is obviously
the correct direction this is obviously
the correct direction this is obviously critically important for running or
critically important for running or
critically important for running or catching or spearing a Tyrannosaurus Rex
catching or spearing a Tyrannosaurus Rex
catching or spearing a Tyrannosaurus Rex back in the day so we have all these new
back in the day so we have all these new
back in the day so we have all these new senses I want to talk to you about a
senses I want to talk to you about a
senses I want to talk to you about a sense of pain a sense of damage we’re
sense of pain a sense of damage we’re
sense of pain a sense of damage we’re all familiar when we do something wrong
all familiar when we do something wrong
all familiar when we do something wrong for our body we stub our toe or we touch
for our body we stub our toe or we touch
for our body we stub our toe or we touch a hot stove and what does it feel like
a hot stove and what does it feel like
a hot stove and what does it feel like it feels painful well the reason why it
it feels painful well the reason why it
it feels painful well the reason why it feels painful is because we have sensors
feels painful is because we have sensors
feels painful is because we have sensors in our skin and throughout our body
in our skin and throughout our body
in our skin and throughout our body fact which detect noxious damage so how
fact which detect noxious damage so how
fact which detect noxious damage so how does this work well there’s a nice
does this work well there’s a nice
does this work well there’s a nice little picture that I cobbled together
little picture that I cobbled together
little picture that I cobbled together in about 20 seconds which kind of
in about 20 seconds which kind of
in about 20 seconds which kind of describes the general neuroscience
describes the general neuroscience
describes the general neuroscience behind sensing now this could be any
behind sensing now this could be any
behind sensing now this could be any type of sensor but in general it’s
type of sensor but in general it’s
type of sensor but in general it’s simple you have a sensor in a part of
simple you have a sensor in a part of
simple you have a sensor in a part of your body and then that sensor is linked
your body and then that sensor is linked
your body and then that sensor is linked by a nerve all the way into your brain
by a nerve all the way into your brain
by a nerve all the way into your brain so for example you have a sensor in your
so for example you have a sensor in your
so for example you have a sensor in your hand for touch when I broke my hand that
hand for touch when I broke my hand that
hand for touch when I broke my hand that sense the sense is that mechanical
sense the sense is that mechanical
sense the sense is that mechanical effort and then transmits the
effort and then transmits the
effort and then transmits the information into the brain
information into the brain
information into the brain now we would like to know how these work
now we would like to know how these work
now we would like to know how these work we’d like to know because we want to
we’d like to know because we want to
we’d like to know because we want to know how the human body works but
know how the human body works but
know how the human body works but particularly for pain because pain is a
particularly for pain because pain is a
particularly for pain because pain is a very useful sensation it teaches us what
very useful sensation it teaches us what
very useful sensation it teaches us what is good and is bad for our body
is good and is bad for our body
is good and is bad for our body however pain can be really debilitating
however pain can be really debilitating
however pain can be really debilitating as well if you have an acute pain like
as well if you have an acute pain like
as well if you have an acute pain like say if you’re a four-year-old and you’re
say if you’re a four-year-old and you’re
say if you’re a four-year-old and you’re tottering around your mom’s kitchen and
tottering around your mom’s kitchen and
tottering around your mom’s kitchen and you touch the hot stove and it hurts you
you touch the hot stove and it hurts you
you touch the hot stove and it hurts you learn never to do that again this is
learn never to do that again this is
learn never to do that again this is useful but what happens if you have
useful but what happens if you have
useful but what happens if you have chronic pain if you’re constantly in
chronic pain if you’re constantly in
chronic pain if you’re constantly in pain for example older people often get
pain for example older people often get
pain for example older people often get something called arthritis which is
something called arthritis which is
something called arthritis which is inflammation in your joints and you
inflammation in your joints and you
inflammation in your joints and you can’t and it’s so painful that you
can’t and it’s so painful that you
can’t and it’s so painful that you cannot use your hands so this is a
cannot use your hands so this is a
cannot use your hands so this is a chronic pain which is stopping you from
chronic pain which is stopping you from
chronic pain which is stopping you from living your life so we want to learn how
living your life so we want to learn how
living your life so we want to learn how these processes work so that then we can
these processes work so that then we can
these processes work so that then we can potentially create therapies to treat
potentially create therapies to treat
potentially create therapies to treat these pain and alleviate these symptoms
these pain and alleviate these symptoms
these pain and alleviate these symptoms and this dysfunction okay
and this dysfunction okay
and this dysfunction okay so a long time ago about in the last 80
so a long time ago about in the last 80
so a long time ago about in the last 80 years or so it’s been very clear that
years or so it’s been very clear that
years or so it’s been very clear that there’s one chemical that we can find in
there’s one chemical that we can find in
there’s one chemical that we can find in our environment that consistently evokes
our environment that consistently evokes
our environment that consistently evokes pain and this is from the chili plant
pain and this is from the chili plant
pain and this is from the chili plant now you guys are probably familiar with
now you guys are probably familiar with
now you guys are probably familiar with eating chili and sometimes if you’re
eating chili and sometimes if you’re
eating chili and sometimes if you’re like me even a little bit of chili is
like me even a little bit of chili is
like me even a little bit of chili is painful in the mouth okay now if you’ve
painful in the mouth okay now if you’ve
painful in the mouth okay now if you’ve ever chopped chili on your kitchen
ever chopped chili on your kitchen
ever chopped chili on your kitchen chopper
chopper
chopper and you’ve got a little cut on your hand
and you’ve got a little cut on your hand
and you’ve got a little cut on your hand and the chilli gets into there cut it
and the chilli gets into there cut it
and the chilli gets into there cut it really hurts now scientists have worked
really hurts now scientists have worked
really hurts now scientists have worked out how the body senses this chilli and
out how the body senses this chilli and
out how the body senses this chilli and this is a little bit of scientific
this is a little bit of scientific
this is a little bit of scientific jargon for you guys it senses chilli was
jargon for you guys it senses chilli was
jargon for you guys it senses chilli was something called the v1 receptor now the
something called the v1 receptor now the
something called the v1 receptor now the v1 receptor or the v1 sensor is upon the
v1 receptor or the v1 sensor is upon the
v1 receptor or the v1 sensor is upon the sensory nerves in your skin on your
sensory nerves in your skin on your
sensory nerves in your skin on your tongue throughout your body now why does
tongue throughout your body now why does
tongue throughout your body now why does chilli cause pain it doesn’t actually do
chilli cause pain it doesn’t actually do
chilli cause pain it doesn’t actually do any damage to your skin it just you just
any damage to your skin it just you just
any damage to your skin it just you just feel like it’s doing damage so it’s
feel like it’s doing damage so it’s
feel like it’s doing damage so it’s mimicking damage but what else does
mimicking damage but what else does
mimicking damage but what else does chilli feel like when you eat it what
chilli feel like when you eat it what
chilli feel like when you eat it what does it feel like when you eat a lot of
does it feel like when you eat a lot of
does it feel like when you eat a lot of chilli in your mouth yes it’s still
chilli in your mouth yes it’s still
chilli in your mouth yes it’s still spicy it feels hot doesn’t it now why is
spicy it feels hot doesn’t it now why is
spicy it feels hot doesn’t it now why is that well the reason why chilli feels
that well the reason why chilli feels
that well the reason why chilli feels hot is because the v1 sensor not only
hot is because the v1 sensor not only
hot is because the v1 sensor not only detects chilli it also detects heat so
detects chilli it also detects heat so
detects chilli it also detects heat so your body can’t tell the difference
your body can’t tell the difference
your body can’t tell the difference between a chemical which is found in
between a chemical which is found in
between a chemical which is found in chile
chile
chile and actual heat and so when the
and actual heat and so when the
and actual heat and so when the four-year-old puts her hand on the stove
four-year-old puts her hand on the stove
four-year-old puts her hand on the stove and goes ah this is painful because it’s
and goes ah this is painful because it’s
and goes ah this is painful because it’s hot it’s activating the v1 sensor and in
hot it’s activating the v1 sensor and in
hot it’s activating the v1 sensor and in fact we can create drugs which block the
fact we can create drugs which block the
fact we can create drugs which block the v1 sensor and you stop the sensation of
v1 sensor and you stop the sensation of
v1 sensor and you stop the sensation of both Chile and of heat so why is Chile
both Chile and of heat so why is Chile
both Chile and of heat so why is Chile painful well it turns out that there’s
painful well it turns out that there’s
painful well it turns out that there’s another thing which is painful and
another thing which is painful and
another thing which is painful and that’s inflammation here’s a picture of
that’s inflammation here’s a picture of
that’s inflammation here’s a picture of a rather unfortunate individual with a
a rather unfortunate individual with a
a rather unfortunate individual with a sunburn now I don’t know if you’re like
sunburn now I don’t know if you’re like
sunburn now I don’t know if you’re like me but when I get a sunburn it feels
me but when I get a sunburn it feels
me but when I get a sunburn it feels really painful really sensitive to the
really painful really sensitive to the
really painful really sensitive to the touch a little touch like this would be
touch a little touch like this would be
touch a little touch like this would be ah agony if you’ve got a sunburn and it
ah agony if you’ve got a sunburn and it
ah agony if you’ve got a sunburn and it turns out that the chemicals produced by
turns out that the chemicals produced by
turns out that the chemicals produced by inflammation like this sunburn in the
inflammation like this sunburn in the
inflammation like this sunburn in the skin look very much like the chemical
skin look very much like the chemical
skin look very much like the chemical which is in chile which causes pain so
which is in chile which causes pain so
which is in chile which causes pain so what the Chile plant has done is
what the Chile plant has done is
what the Chile plant has done is produced a chemical through evolution
produced a chemical through evolution
produced a chemical through evolution which mimics and looks like what is
which mimics and looks like what is
which mimics and looks like what is produced
produced
produced the skin when it’s damaged okay so this
the skin when it’s damaged okay so this
the skin when it’s damaged okay so this tells us that if we know how chili works
tells us that if we know how chili works
tells us that if we know how chili works we can know how pain is produced by
we can know how pain is produced by
we can know how pain is produced by inflammation like arthritis and other
inflammation like arthritis and other
inflammation like arthritis and other diseases like that so scientists decided
diseases like that so scientists decided
diseases like that so scientists decided to find out how chili worked and the
to find out how chili worked and the
to find out how chili worked and the question to start off with is why would
question to start off with is why would
question to start off with is why would chili make something which is painful to
chili make something which is painful to
chili make something which is painful to eat that doesn’t make any sense
eat that doesn’t make any sense
eat that doesn’t make any sense whatsoever fruit and this is a fruit
whatsoever fruit and this is a fruit
whatsoever fruit and this is a fruit chili as a fruit it’s got its got some
chili as a fruit it’s got its got some
chili as a fruit it’s got its got some fleshy stuff and some seeds and you know
fleshy stuff and some seeds and you know
fleshy stuff and some seeds and you know why plants produce fruit it’s to
why plants produce fruit it’s to
why plants produce fruit it’s to disperse their seeds get animals to eat
disperse their seeds get animals to eat
disperse their seeds get animals to eat and then disperse their seeds so why
and then disperse their seeds so why
and then disperse their seeds so why would chili plant produce something
would chili plant produce something
would chili plant produce something which is ah really painful to eat
which is ah really painful to eat
which is ah really painful to eat although the joke’s on the chili plants
although the joke’s on the chili plants
although the joke’s on the chili plants because humans like to eat chili but
because humans like to eat chili but
because humans like to eat chili but that’s another matter
that’s another matter
that’s another matter so the reason is because of these cute
so the reason is because of these cute
so the reason is because of these cute guys okay so we’ve got some monkeys
guys okay so we’ve got some monkeys
guys okay so we’ve got some monkeys we’ve got some squirrels any mammal that
we’ve got some squirrels any mammal that
we’ve got some squirrels any mammal that eats a chili plant will destroy the
eats a chili plant will destroy the
eats a chili plant will destroy the seeds inside its digestive tract there
seeds inside its digestive tract there
seeds inside its digestive tract there are different enzymes in your body which
are different enzymes in your body which
are different enzymes in your body which when it’s breaking down your food makes
when it’s breaking down your food makes
when it’s breaking down your food makes the seeds unable to then germinate when
the seeds unable to then germinate when
the seeds unable to then germinate when they pass through the animal into the
they pass through the animal into the
they pass through the animal into the stool
stool
stool okay so chili has adapted to prevent
okay so chili has adapted to prevent
okay so chili has adapted to prevent mammals from eating it
mammals from eating it
mammals from eating it so what else eats it birds eat chili and
so what else eats it birds eat chili and
so what else eats it birds eat chili and whence when birds eat a chili pepper
whence when birds eat a chili pepper
whence when birds eat a chili pepper fruit and the seeds passed through the
fruit and the seeds passed through the
fruit and the seeds passed through the bird they do not get broken down the
bird they do not get broken down the
bird they do not get broken down the seeds can then germinate properly so the
seeds can then germinate properly so the
seeds can then germinate properly so the chili plant has a decision to make
chili plant has a decision to make
chili plant has a decision to make do I get eaten by a mammal or do I get
do I get eaten by a mammal or do I get
do I get eaten by a mammal or do I get eaten by a bird if I get eaten by an
eaten by a bird if I get eaten by an
eaten by a bird if I get eaten by an animal my seeds will not work if I get
animal my seeds will not work if I get
animal my seeds will not work if I get eaten by a bird my seeds will work so we
eaten by a bird my seeds will work so we
eaten by a bird my seeds will work so we want to ink the at the plant wishes to
want to ink the at the plant wishes to
want to ink the at the plant wishes to encourage the animals not to eat it and
encourage the animals not to eat it and
encourage the animals not to eat it and the birds to eat it and it turns out
the birds to eat it and it turns out
the birds to eat it and it turns out that mammals like I said a respond
that mammals like I said a respond
that mammals like I said a respond negatively to chili it’s painful but
negatively to chili it’s painful but
negatively to chili it’s painful but birds don’t care they just eaten tons of
birds don’t care they just eaten tons of
birds don’t care they just eaten tons of chili yeah the most chili we can eat
chili yeah the most chili we can eat
chili yeah the most chili we can eat doesn’t matter
doesn’t matter
doesn’t matter birds don’t seem to care
birds don’t seem to care
birds don’t seem to care so what does this mean does this mean
so what does this mean does this mean
so what does this mean does this mean that birds do not have the v1 sensor
that birds do not have the v1 sensor
that birds do not have the v1 sensor well it turns out the birds do have the
well it turns out the birds do have the
well it turns out the birds do have the v1 sensor birds respond to heat in an in
v1 sensor birds respond to heat in an in
v1 sensor birds respond to heat in an in a defensive way if you if you put a bird
a defensive way if you if you put a bird
a defensive way if you if you put a bird near a hot flame it retreats because
near a hot flame it retreats because
near a hot flame it retreats because it’s hot and it’s got that v1 sensor so
it’s hot and it’s got that v1 sensor so
it’s hot and it’s got that v1 sensor so what’s going on well it turns out that
what’s going on well it turns out that
what’s going on well it turns out that the birds do have the v1 sensor but the
the birds do have the v1 sensor but the
the birds do have the v1 sensor but the v1 sensor does not get activated by
v1 sensor does not get activated by
v1 sensor does not get activated by chilly okay
chilly okay
chilly okay and this is where the scientists got
and this is where the scientists got
and this is where the scientists got together and worked out that this rather
together and worked out that this rather
together and worked out that this rather esoteric point that you put Chilean bird
esoteric point that you put Chilean bird
esoteric point that you put Chilean bird feed so that the mammals don’t eat it
feed so that the mammals don’t eat it
feed so that the mammals don’t eat it and let the birds eat it this can help
and let the birds eat it this can help
and let the birds eat it this can help us understand pain why does it help us
us understand pain why does it help us
us understand pain why does it help us understand pain because if we can
understand pain because if we can
understand pain because if we can compare the v1 sensor from mammals with
compare the v1 sensor from mammals with
compare the v1 sensor from mammals with the v1 sensor from birds we can work out
the v1 sensor from birds we can work out
the v1 sensor from birds we can work out where the Chile works so you guys know
where the Chile works so you guys know
where the Chile works so you guys know about DNA DNA is the genetic code it
about DNA DNA is the genetic code it
about DNA DNA is the genetic code it allows us to know exactly the building
allows us to know exactly the building
allows us to know exactly the building blocks for all biological life and what
blocks for all biological life and what
blocks for all biological life and what we can do is the biological scientists
we can do is the biological scientists
we can do is the biological scientists got together and they worked out the
got together and they worked out the
got together and they worked out the genetic code of all the mammals and all
genetic code of all the mammals and all
genetic code of all the mammals and all the birds and what they compared was
the birds and what they compared was
the birds and what they compared was they wanted to look at the genetic code
they wanted to look at the genetic code
they wanted to look at the genetic code which made the v1 sensor okay so we can
which made the v1 sensor okay so we can
which made the v1 sensor okay so we can look at the two different structures now
look at the two different structures now
look at the two different structures now the v1 sensor has 900 separate
the v1 sensor has 900 separate
the v1 sensor has 900 separate components this thing is complex it’s
components this thing is complex it’s
components this thing is complex it’s complicated so you’d never work out
complicated so you’d never work out
complicated so you’d never work out where the the Chile activated the v1
where the the Chile activated the v1
where the the Chile activated the v1 sensor if you were just to change each
sensor if you were just to change each
sensor if you were just to change each and every one so instead they compared
and every one so instead they compared
and every one so instead they compared the mammalian sensor with the bird
the mammalian sensor with the bird
the mammalian sensor with the bird sensor and you see there’s a tiny bit
sensor and you see there’s a tiny bit
sensor and you see there’s a tiny bit which is different don’t you the little
which is different don’t you the little
which is different don’t you the little yellow boxes and those yellow boxes that
yellow boxes and those yellow boxes that
yellow boxes and those yellow boxes that was the only difference between the bird
was the only difference between the bird
was the only difference between the bird and the mammal so this must mean that
and the mammal so this must mean that
and the mammal so this must mean that that’s where the Chile works
that’s where the Chile works
that’s where the Chile works chili works on that little yellow box or
chili works on that little yellow box or
chili works on that little yellow box or it doesn’t work on that yellow box
it doesn’t work on that yellow box
it doesn’t work on that yellow box because that’s the bird version so if we
because that’s the bird version so if we
because that’s the bird version so if we now know where the chili works I want to
now know where the chili works I want to
now know where the chili works I want to remind you that chili mimics what the
remind you that chili mimics what the
remind you that chili mimics what the body produces when it’s damaged so now
body produces when it’s damaged so now
body produces when it’s damaged so now we know from this experiment where the
we know from this experiment where the
we know from this experiment where the little bits of your own body and
little bits of your own body and
little bits of your own body and inflammation where that attacks the v1
inflammation where that attacks the v1
inflammation where that attacks the v1 sensor so now we can design some drugs
sensor so now we can design some drugs
sensor so now we can design some drugs which target that tiny little sensor
which target that tiny little sensor
which target that tiny little sensor that tiny bit in this huge sensor we can
that tiny bit in this huge sensor we can
that tiny bit in this huge sensor we can now block with drugs there for treating
now block with drugs there for treating
now block with drugs there for treating pain and I just want to end up by saying
pain and I just want to end up by saying
pain and I just want to end up by saying this is about new perspectives ok and
this is about new perspectives ok and
this is about new perspectives ok and the new perspectives is that if we can
the new perspectives is that if we can
the new perspectives is that if we can use different scientists these are neuro
use different scientists these are neuro
use different scientists these are neuro scientists these are molecular
scientists these are molecular
scientists these are molecular biologists these are zoologist and
biologists these are zoologist and
biologists these are zoologist and botanist everyone joined together so
botanist everyone joined together so
botanist everyone joined together so that now we have a target for treating
that now we have a target for treating
that now we have a target for treating pain and I think in the near future
pain and I think in the near future
pain and I think in the near future we’re going to have drugs which can help
we’re going to have drugs which can help
we’re going to have drugs which can help people with all their pain syndromes so
people with all their pain syndromes so
people with all their pain syndromes so I’d like to thank everyone for their
I’d like to thank everyone for their
I’d like to thank everyone for their attention and have a great day
”
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