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Title details for Venomous by Christie Wilcox - Available

Venomous

How Earth's Deadliest Creatures Mastered Biochemistry

by Christie Wilcox
Emily Rankin
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
A thrilling tale of encounters with nature’s masters of biochemistry

In Venomous, the molecular biologist Christie Wilcox investigates venoms and the animals that use them, revealing how they work, what they do to the human body, and how they can revolutionize biochemistry and medicine today.
Wilcox takes us from the coast of Indonesia to the rainforests of Peru in search of the secrets of these mysterious animals. We encounter jellyfish that release microscopic venom-packed darts known to kill humans in just two minutes, a two-inch caterpillar with toxic bristles that trigger hemorrhaging throughout the body, and a stunning blue-ringed octopus with saliva capable of inducing total paralysis. How could an animal as simple as a jellyfish evolve such an intricate, deadly poison? And how can a snake possess enzymes that tear through tissue yet leave its own body unscathed? Wilcox meets the fearless scientists who often risk their lives studying these lethal beasts to find out, and puts her own life on the line to examine these species up close. Drawing on her own research on venom chemistry and evolution, she also shows how venom is helping us untangle the complex mechanisms of some of our most devastating diseases.
Venomous reveals that the animals we fear the most actually hold the keys to a deeper understanding of evolution, adaptation, and immunity. Thrilling and surprising at every turn, Venomous will change the way you think about our natural world.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    August 9, 2016

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781524708191
      • File size: 189839 KB
      • Duration: 06:35:29

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      May 16, 2016
      Wilcox, a molecular biologist, takes readers on a lively tour of animals that boast the ability to kill and maim others via their venom. Throughout the book, she uses an evolutionary framework to ask and answer questions about the origin and maintenance of venom across a wide swath of the animal kingdom. Wilcox impressively integrates personal anecdotes—once she was stung by a venomous sea urchin while teaching second graders about marine life—with summaries of the scientific literature, and brings to life the wonders of an intriguing but little-known portion of the biological world. She explores various venoms’ modes of action: disrupting nerve function, altering blood chemistry, and manipulating immune function. Wilcox discusses current research that has serious implications for human health; in one researcher’s estimation, animal venoms are a potential “pharmacological gold mine.” There is also reason to believe that it might be possible for scientists to craft a universal antivenom that will save significant numbers of lives annually. Whether she’s discussing snakes and pufferfish or Komodo dragons and spiders—not to mention octopuses, snails, platypuses, and bees—Wilcox relates technical biochemical and physiological information in a manner that is accessible and enjoyable. Agency: Susan Rabiner Literary.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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