Genetic mutations can sometimes lead to health problems, but one woman in Scotland has hit the jackpot in the game of genetics. She has a rare trait that makes her a kind of mutant superhero. Here is everything you should know about it.
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She heals faster than the average person
If you've ever read a comic book or seen one of the (too many) MCU films, then you're probably familiar with the expression of 'healing factor'. It's an ability that allows a character to heal faster than the average human.
It's a little plot trick that allows superheroes to return to battle without actually going to the hospital! Superheroes Wolverine and Deadpool, for example, have a powerful healing factor that makes them virtually immortal.
But what if we told you that this superpower existed in real life? In Scotland, Jo Cameron, 75, heals faster than the average person. Even more impressive, she can't feel pain or anxiety. Now, imagine how much she must save in terms of painkillers and anti-anxiety medication!
Jo Cameron has mystified doctors. She's 75 and feels almost no pain. She also finds herself unable to be sad or anxious for long.
— BBC World Service (@bbcworldservice) May 25, 2023
Scientists have discovered it's due to a genetic mutation. Here's how it works 👇https://t.co/PWpS6orZmG
Read more:This woman suffers from rare disease that causes her skin to peel off
Jo discovered her superpower by chance
Jo Cameron only discovered her particularity ten years ago.
I knew I was happy and carefree, but I didn't realise I was different.
It was during her hip operation that the doctors noticed that she had a particularly high pain tolerance. After subjecting her to a battery of tests, they realised that mutations in the FAAH-OUT, BDNF and ACKR3 genes were responsible for her superhuman abilities (no, unfortunately Jo Cameron didn't get an injection of super serum).
Will the case of this Scottish woman lead to the creation of new drugs? According to Professor James Cox, lead author of a study on the FAAH-OUT gene:
By understanding precisely what is happening at the molecular level, we can begin to understand the biology involved, opening up possibilities for drug discovery that could one day have significant positive effects for patients.
Read more:This woman suffers from extremely rare condition that makes her have 100 orgasms a day
This article has been translated from Gentside FR.
Sources used:
Oxford Academic: Molecular basis of FAAH-OUT-associated human pain insensitivity
