Gene linked to "itching" identified

Itching can be annoying and almost everyone of us has some kind of itch at least once a day. Is it just a problem we all have to deal with? What if it is a persistent, chronic problem?

Those with psoriasis can probably identify with the need to constantly scratch and itching part of the body. Can those folks be helped? Well, with new research that links specific genes to itching, possibly so.

Although the research was done on mice, the vigorous itching activity witnessed with and without a certain genetic expression was the evidence scientists needed to conclude that there may be a future drug that would target itching. Don't get ready to throw that backscratcher out, though.