What if we don’t feel pain

What`s the most dreadful thing for you in your life?Some might be afraid of coming across a rat or a snake.For others,it might be walking in the dark.Of course,as students,you are more likely to say you are nervous before taking an exam.There is one thing most youngsters,even some adults are afraid of.That`s getting a shot from a nurse.Sometimes we just wish we are immune to pain and wonder how good it would be if we don’t feel the pain.

There is one family that has a high threshold for pain.In other words they are insensitive to pain.

Each coin has two sides.It seems an advantage for this family not to feel unwell when there is a cut on the finger.Any they even don’t need an anesthesia when getting an operation from the doctor.But as they don’t feel pain,sometimes they won’t know some serious hurts such as burns or broken bones until they see the damage or it influences their life.

One member of this family often damages the top of her mouth because she burns herself with hot drinks.

Scientists believe the condition could be the result of some nerves not reacting properly.And the researchers also found a gene mutation.

The family is believed to be the only one in the world to be affected by this faulty gene.

生活中你最怕什么？有的人可能害怕遇到老鼠或蛇；有的人可能怕走夜路；当然，作为学生，最害怕的莫过于考试了。

有一件事，大多数年轻人都害怕，当然也包括一部分成年人，那就是打针。有时候难免感叹：要是感觉不到疼痛，那多好啊！

有一家人他们真的感觉不到痛，或者说对疼痛不敏感。

事情都有两面性。他们手指被划破时，不知道疼，似乎是一个优点——他们做手术时，甚至不需要打麻药。但是，由于他们感觉不到疼痛，他们被火烧伤或者发生骨折时，他们不知道情况有多严重，直到这些伤害影响到他们的生活。这家人中的一员因为感觉不到疼痛，上嘴唇经常被热水、热饭烫伤。

科学家认为他们这种情况可能和他们家族的某些异常基因有关。研究人员还在他们身体里发现了基因变异。他们是世界上唯一受到这种异常基因影响的家族。

Notes：

immune 免疫的；免除的

threshold 门槛；限度

insensitive 不敏感的；麻痹的

anesthesia 麻醉；麻木

gene mutation 基因突变。