Could Humans Ever Turn Venomous?
It’s certainly not impossible...
Could humans ever evolve venom? A new study reveals that humans do have the tool kit to produce it — in fact, all reptiles and mammals do. So, what are the chances of future humans joining rattlesnakes and platypuses among the ranks of venomous animals?
Let’s find out!
The study
In their study, scientists from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and the Australian National University sought to answer how did venom glands evolve in animals.
Oral venom is common across the animal kingdom, present in creatures as diverse as spiders, snakes, and slow lorises, the only known venomous species of primate. Biologists knew that oral venom glands are modified salivary glands, but the new research reveals the molecular mechanisms behind it all.
The team found a constellation of genes that are common in multiple body tissues across all amniotes- the group of animals that lay eggs on land or retain them within the mother [1]. Many of these genes are involved in folding proteins, which makes sense because venomous animals must manufacture numerous toxins, which are made of proteins.
Every mammal or reptile has the genetic scaffolding upon which an oral venom system is built. And…
