Tree shrews can tolerate hot peppers: Mutation in pain receptor makes peppery plant palatable

Almost all mammals avoid eating chili peppers and other ‘hot’ foods, because of the pain they induce. But not the tree shrew, according to a new study. The researchers found that this close relative of primates is unaffected by the active ingredient in chili peppers due to a subtle mutation in the receptor that detects it.

Source: sciencedaily.com