Answer 1:
Research has shown that synthesizing certain
compounds or proteins that are found in the venom
of various organisms may result in drugs that
improve quality of life, or even possibly, save
lives! However, keep in mind that the venom itself
is dangerous, and that most of the research around
this topic is done with chemicals that were
sythesized via recombinant DNA technology.
|
Answer 2:
Sure - it saves the lives of the animals that
make the venom! It's why venom evolved in the
first place.
We can also use other animals' venom ourselves
for a variety of purposes, most obviously the
creation of antivenoms (anti-bodies that allow the
immune system to lock onto venom molecules and
destroy them before they do too much damage).
Antivenoms have saved many (human) lives.
Click Here to return to the search form.
|
