Anatomy of a Scientific Discovery: The Race to Find the Body's Own Morphine

by Jeff Goldberg

The story of endorphins—the body’s own morphine.“Fascinating.” -- The New YorkerThe exciting story of the race to discover endorphins—opiate-like chemicals in the brain—and their links addictionrunner’s highappetite controlsexual responsemental illnesses such as depression and schizophreniaIn late 1973, scientists John Hughes and Hans Kosterlitz spent the majority of their time in an underfunded, obscure, and cramped laboratory in Aberdeen, Sweden. While working on the brains of pigs, the duo discovered a nonaddictive narcotic chemical that they hoped to later find in human brains. If they could isolate this chemical in humans, perhaps they could find a way to help the world begin to heal itself. Hughes and Kosterlitz’s research would inevitably lead them to discover endorphins, the body’s own natural morphine and the chemical that makes it possible to feel both pain and pleasure.Announcing their findings to the scientific world thrust Hughes and Kosterlitz in the spotlight and made them celebrities. Soon, scientists all over the world were hastily examining the human brain and its endorphins. In a few years’ time, they would use the team’s initial research to link endorphins to drug addiction, runner’s high, appetite control, sexual response, and mental illnesses such as depression and schizophrenia.In Anatomy of a Scientific Discovery, Jeff Goldberg describes Hughes and Kosterlitz’s lives before, during, and after their historic and scientific breakthrough. He also takes a look at the bigger picture, revealing the brutal competition between drug companies to find a way to cash in on this monumental discovery.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, History, Historical, Biology, Medical, Audiobook

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 1988

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

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. 😡

[Ira Therebel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Endorphin's, "the body's own morphine", seemed like an interesting topic and turned out that it is even more interesting than I thought. I had no idea so much was going on, researched and done.

I am not always comfortable with science books because they can be too complicated, especially on something like this. But while some things required me reading slower it was still made comprehensible enough for people like me.

The book also goes into the whole history of the research, tells us about the scientists, what contributions they made and all the rivalries and their race for the common goal. Was really interesting how it went on!

And as I said endorphins are sure a much wider topic than I thought. Pain, mood, memory etc. it seems to be included in so many topics and the theories and research done on it was fun to read about. Wish I could turn my endorphins on just as I please!

[عدنان العبار · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book documents one of the most important episodes in neuroscience -- that is, the discovery of endorphins. The scientists in this book were asking the question: Why are there neurotransmitter recepters that would accept morphine, say? Why, except, perhaps, because the body has its own morphine-like chemicals. The scientists tried to find such biochemicals in the brains of pigs for years to no avail, specifically in the University of Aberdeen. The quest took too long, until the Americans entered into the competition for the drug industry to produce reliable painkillers that are not addictive: The holy grail of neuroscience.

I loved the book, especially as it juxtaposes the process of science in Europe, and especially in the UK, as compared with what happens in the USA -- the much faster-paced process there. I loved everything about the scientists and the processes in their dungeon-like labs.

[Ruta Alb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard a thought that once in a while everyone should read a book outside of their „taste“ or usual reads. It broadens your mind. I agree with statement and immediately thought about this book - it's not something I would usually choose.
This book tells the background on how scientists race each other and pharmasutical giant to discover endorfins - opiat like chemicals in the brain (the body's own natural morphene). This chemical makes it possible to feel pain and pleasure.
Some parts of the book were really interesting. For example, how a scientist spends a lot of time in a slaughter house to collect brains from pig heads. And how that scientist gets banned to a basement office because the experiments he does smells really bad and colleagues are complaining. On the other hand, this was a difficult listen for me as pashing out was really easy. The biographical details of scientists were less interesting for me.
Three words about the book
Race for discovery

[David Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun journey

I was caught up with the characters and their idiosyncrasies mellowing with time. My we all live in interesting times.

[Kadri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess the words "scientific discovery" and "race" should have given me a hint of what to expect - another book featuring a competitive stressful scientist story where the personas are often portrayed as eccentrics.

[Jeffrey]

I did not write it. Jeffrey Goldberg is a very common name. I haven't read it, but a friend gave it to me as a gift.

[Don Salisbury]

Fabulous true story of hard work and discovery ! The beginning is particularly startlingly engaging.
This is a story of heroic effort winning out in real life!