News Health & Medicine A role for Merkels Mysterious skin cells are required for sensing light touches By Tina Hesman Saey June 18, 2009 at 5:46 pm - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print To listen to samples of Merkel cells and the signals they generate – click here. Tender touches come courtesy of skin cells with an unromantic name: Merkel cells. Scientists have debated the role of Merkel cells in the skin since they were first discovered in 1875.