Why Is Snake Venom So Deadly?

This week Reactions is taking a look at the science behind poisonous snakes and why their venom is so deadly. Chemistry sheds some light on the proteins in venom, as well as its potential medical uses.

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Music:
Robert Daglio – Mr. Fantastic
Sam Leopard – Back for More

Writer & Producer:
Kirk Zamieroski

Executive Producer:
Adam Dylewski

Scientific consultants:
Kenneth Winkel, Ph.D.
Darcy Gentleman, Ph.D.
Sophia Cai

SOURCES:
Snake Venom Basics - http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2003/stoneley/two.htm

Snake Venom Basics 2 - http://www.toxinology.com/fusebox.cfm?staticaction=snakes/ns-snvenom.htm

Cytotoxins - http://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/metalloproteinases-mechanisms-of-action-and-pharmacological-relevance-2161-0495.1000-181.pdf

Striking Beauties: Venomous Snakes - https://web.archive.org/web/20060523055642/

General Neurotoxins - http://www.chemistryexplained.com/Ne-Nu/Neurotoxins.html

Evolutions Most Effective Killer: Snake Venom - http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-03/evolution's-most-effective-killer-snake-venom

Venom and alzheimer's - http://www.med.monash.edu.au/news/2016/snake-venom-alzheimers-disease.html

Blood clotting hydrogels - http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5b00356
Annual snakebites - http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/snakes/

Prothrombin activation - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3531198

Fibrin & clotting - http://atvb.ahajournals.org/content/31/12/e88.full

On thrombin and fibrin - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2408736/

Microclots - https://books.google.co.jp/books?id=FBclBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA116&lpg=PA116&dq=venom+microclots+thombrin&source=bl&ots=_Pf4W7ImrS&sig=sBn0Cgwlzo7zKuVHbd1HrjdMcTQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiR6qrK7_vLAhWJFJQKHev5BAAQ6AEIKDAC#v=onepage&q=venom%20microclots%20thombrin&f=fals

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S03E24 - Why Does Your Hair Turn Gray? – Speaking of Chemistry