🚀 go-pugleaf

On 14 Dec 2005 21:31:59 -0800, "Radium" <glucegen1@excite.com> wrote:

>Hi:
>
>I asked this question before but the way I asked obviously made readers
>misunderstand my question.
>
>Lets say I was somehow invincible. 

That explains why we misunderstood the question.


>Totally physically-invincible to all
>injuries excluding flame burns to the skin resulting from direct
>contact with flames. Lets say that the only molecules affected in my
>skin were proteins. Lets say that the denatured proteins in my
>thermally-injured skin did not coagulate [somehow the hydrophobic cores
>are protected]. Lets say that no inflammatory reaction occurred. Lets
>also say that no infection occurred. In addition, nerves, blood
>vessels, sweat glands, oil glands, lymph nodes, hair roots, dermal
>muscles [e.g. erector muscles under hairs], and hairs are somehow
>totally protected from the thermal injury. Lastly, lets also say that
>the organic molecules in my skin did not carbonize* [due to protection
>of the carbon-carbon bonds as well as the carbon-x bonds; x standing
>for the other element attached to carbon].
>
>
>*carbonize = when an organic substance is heated to a certain
>temperature or above in the absence of adequate oxygen [for
>oxidization] that substance turns smokes and turns black. It leaves
>smoke, char, and ash behind. If heated to a sufficient temperature or
>beyond in the PRESENCE of adequate oxygen, the organic substance will
>oxidize but not carbonize.
>
>
>Lets I suffered a flame burn [due to direct contact with open flame]
>which totally denatured all proteins molecules in my epidermis and
>dermis [excluding nerves, blood vessels, sweat glands, oil glands,
>lymph nodes, hair roots, dermal muscles [e.g. erector muscles under
>hairs], and hairs]. In addition, no the burn did not extend anywhere
>below the dermis [only epidermis and dermis are affected] what symptoms
>would I experience? What color would my skin change to?
>
>Here is what I think would happen. I am dark-skinned. I think that my
>skin would turn white due to denaturing of the pigment proteins. 


Ok, that is a fairly specific point. 

If by pigment, you mean melanin... Melanin is not really a protein. In
any case, it is not easily predicted what would happen to its color
under the conditions you suggest. Perhaps you can find some
information on how melanin responds to heat, but you will need to
specify temperature and time.

Of course, if we take the constraint that only proteins are affected,
then there would be no effect.

bob