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A review by kevin_shepherd
Anatomy of a Scientific Discovery: The Race to Find the Body's Own Morphine by Jeff Goldberg
3.0
Anatomy of a Scientific Discovery is an accounting of two Aberdeen researchers, John Hughes and Hans Kosterlitz, and their storied discovery of endorphins*.
*endorphins are hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system. They have quite a number of cool physiological functions, not the least of which is pain reduction. They are peptides**.
**peptides consist of two or more amino acids linked in chain-like fashion. Because peptides activate the body's opiate receptors, their overall effect is decidedly analgesic***.
***analgesic is an adjective used in medical circles to describe any drug that relieves pain****.
****pain is that uncomfortable situation of having to stop and Google medical terminology every second or third page of ‘Anatomy of a Scientific Discovery.’
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Trigger Warning: If you’re disturbed by the use of mice, rats, guinea pigs, pigs, cats, calves, cows, camels, monkeys and apes as subjects of medical research and live experimentation, or if you’re averse to reading about unanesthetized animals having their skulls opened for electrode implantments, then send me a friend request because we obviously have a LOT in common.
I understand that a multitude of medical advances are directly attributable to animal testing. I’ve heard the “sometimes it’s best not to know how the sausage is made” adage a million times. I get it and I am partially onboard with it. But when experiments have to be repeated because of human carelessness, when lives are sacrificed unnecessarily and with little or no regard for their comfort or care, my blood fucking boils.
*endorphins are hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system. They have quite a number of cool physiological functions, not the least of which is pain reduction. They are peptides**.
**peptides consist of two or more amino acids linked in chain-like fashion. Because peptides activate the body's opiate receptors, their overall effect is decidedly analgesic***.
***analgesic is an adjective used in medical circles to describe any drug that relieves pain****.
****pain is that uncomfortable situation of having to stop and Google medical terminology every second or third page of ‘Anatomy of a Scientific Discovery.’
__________________________________________
Trigger Warning: If you’re disturbed by the use of mice, rats, guinea pigs, pigs, cats, calves, cows, camels, monkeys and apes as subjects of medical research and live experimentation, or if you’re averse to reading about unanesthetized animals having their skulls opened for electrode implantments, then send me a friend request because we obviously have a LOT in common.
I understand that a multitude of medical advances are directly attributable to animal testing. I’ve heard the “sometimes it’s best not to know how the sausage is made” adage a million times. I get it and I am partially onboard with it. But when experiments have to be repeated because of human carelessness, when lives are sacrificed unnecessarily and with little or no regard for their comfort or care, my blood fucking boils.