La scienza che vorrei...! :-)
Continua l'estate di fuoco sul fronte delle scoperte scientifiche: dopo il bosone di Higgs, che dà massa alla materia, e la particella di Aida, che dà morbidezza al muffin, individuate le cellule responsabili dell'entusiasmo immotivato. Si tratta di una nuova sottopopolazione di linfociti, rinominati linfociti Funny (n.d.r. divertenti) che, per ragioni ignote, sarebbero in grado di rilasciare entusiasmina, la molecola che ormai viene considerata l'elisir del buon umore. Enormi le potenziali applicazioni di questa scoperta nella lotta contro il cattivo umore e il pessimismo.
I risultati dello studio sono stati pubblicati sulla prestigiosa rivista Nature Cakes. Di seguito riportiamo un estratto dell'articolo originale.
Nature Cakes
Molecular basis of unjustified enthusiasms: the role of funny lymphocytes
Di Meglio N*, Moresco M*, Raccosta L & Paniccia A
* These authors contributed equally to this work
INTRODUCTION
The word "enthusiasm" originally comes from the Greek term enthusìasmos, composed by en (in) and theos (god), whose literal translation is "with God inside" or "possessed by God". Currently the word simply indicates an intense emotion accompanied by manifestations of joy and excitement.
Over time a distinction came up between canonical and non-canonical enthusiasms. While canonical enthusiasms are logically related to a recognizable cause (the excitement is actually due to a good news or a desirable situation), non-canonical or unjustified enthusiams are not linked to any apparent reason.
Classical examples of unjustified enthusiasms are:
(a) exaggerated expression of joy towards routine events (e.g. "Yuhuuuu the sun is rising today!")
(b) counterintuitive excitement when dealing with undesirable events (e.g."Yuppie it's Monday again!!!")
Though these episods have been extensively documentated, little is known about the biological background of this phenotype. In this study we have shed light on the molecular basis of unjustified entusiuasms identifying a new subset of immune cells, the funny lymphocytes (or F lymphocytes), involved in the trigger phase of the phenomenon.
RESULTS
We examined the composition of the blood of a group of enthusiastic people (N=10) compared to the blood of a control group of normal people (N=20). Microscope analysis revealed an enrichment in a population of lymphocyte-like smiling and colourful cells. We decided to characterize this new subset of lymphcytes, from now on referred to as Funny lymphocytes (or F lymophocytes).
As depicted in the cake, F cells are polynucleated cells (each kiwi slice corresponds to one nucleus) and this is consistent with the fact that they are hyperactive. Notably, the nucleus assumes the likeness of a smile. Moreover, since it is well known that enthusiasm requires a lot of energy, it is not a surprise that these cells contain a high number of mithocondria (the walnuts) which tend to form clusters at the centre of the cytosol.
The most peculiar feature of F lymphocytes is the presence of vescicles of entuhsiasmin (the smarties): this molecule has been demonstrated to be the main mediator of F cell function, spreading the good mood all over the body. Enthusiasmin release occurs after the activation of any of the receptors (the mashmallows) present on the surface of F cells: these receptors are hypersensitive to any kind of stimulus and this gives reason for the fact that unjustified enthusiasms are... unjustified!
AKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank Elisabetta for inspiration, the rock band Entusiasmi Immotivati for blood samples, Claudia and Matias for helpful discussion.
This study is sponsored by La Panicceria.
RESULTS
We examined the composition of the blood of a group of enthusiastic people (N=10) compared to the blood of a control group of normal people (N=20). Microscope analysis revealed an enrichment in a population of lymphocyte-like smiling and colourful cells. We decided to characterize this new subset of lymphcytes, from now on referred to as Funny lymphocytes (or F lymophocytes).
As depicted in the cake, F cells are polynucleated cells (each kiwi slice corresponds to one nucleus) and this is consistent with the fact that they are hyperactive. Notably, the nucleus assumes the likeness of a smile. Moreover, since it is well known that enthusiasm requires a lot of energy, it is not a surprise that these cells contain a high number of mithocondria (the walnuts) which tend to form clusters at the centre of the cytosol.
The most peculiar feature of F lymphocytes is the presence of vescicles of entuhsiasmin (the smarties): this molecule has been demonstrated to be the main mediator of F cell function, spreading the good mood all over the body. Enthusiasmin release occurs after the activation of any of the receptors (the mashmallows) present on the surface of F cells: these receptors are hypersensitive to any kind of stimulus and this gives reason for the fact that unjustified enthusiasms are... unjustified!
AKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank Elisabetta for inspiration, the rock band Entusiasmi Immotivati for blood samples, Claudia and Matias for helpful discussion.
This study is sponsored by La Panicceria.
Esiste la possibilità, anche se remota, che questi linfociti F possano essere infusi a gente che passa la vita nel baratro del buio intellettuale, senza mai sorridere e seri nei loro miseri risultati. (Non appagati..)
RispondiEliminaPrimo nome condiviso, gran fregatura!
RispondiEliminaComunque insisto che si vorrebbero le ricette pubblicate anche!
Non capisco perché in una serie di ringraziamenti significativa non sia stato citato il mio nome: in quanto teorico ufficiale dell'immotivato entusiasmo, elaboratore della tesi filosofico-scientifica che ha dato origine a questa ricerca avrebbe avuto senso dare al linfocita il mio nome, come nel caso del Bosone che prende il nome dal teorico che lo ha ipotizzato. Essendo sufficientemente cosciente della megalomania che mi dovrebbe portare a confrontarmi con il professor Higgs, preferirei essere, per pura umiltà comparato con colui del quale si dice che il Bosone sia la particella (vi piace la mia umile parafrasi??)
RispondiElimina...e fammi un po' indovinare, per caso il nome che dovrei aggiungere è Marco? ;P
RispondiElimina