Sixth Sense Gene Discovered

The sense of proprioception of a person has been linked to a gene called PIEZO2.

20:45 03 October 2016

Sixth sense, described as awareness of one’s body in space, has been linked to a gene called PIEZO2.

 

The scientists said that the gene produces "mechanosensitive" proteins allowing the body to sense the force behind touch and the ability to recognise where body parts lay.

 

Carsten G. Bönnemann, M.D., senior investigator at the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and a co-leader of the study, said: “Our study highlights the critical importance of PIEZO2 and the senses it controls in our daily lives,”

 

“The results establish that PIEZO2 is a touch and proprioception gene in humans. Understanding its role in these senses may provide clues to a variety of neurological disorders.”

 

To further probe the issue, researchers conducted a study to observe the genetic effect of the PIEZO2 gene mutation in two human subjects. They asked the subjects to perform several tests relating to movement and balance. Both the subjects are unable to walk properly when blindfolded, compared to people who don’t have the mutation.