There are over 2000 species of snakes in the world. Some have been deemed completely harmless and adopted as pets while others are lethal from just the mere sight of them. Over the years there have been a lot of cases were humans have fallen prey to these reptiles. According to Kasturiratne et al. (2008) envenoming from snake bites is a huge public health problem today especially in tropics and subtropical regions. In the studies conducted by Kasturiratne et al. (2008) from gathering data from countries records on snake bites reported and also from United Nations databases they were able to make a global estimate of snake envenoming per year as shown in the table below and they realized that snakebites cause high morbidity and mortality worldwide especially in the regions sub-Saharan Africa South Asia and Southeast Asia.‘Snake venoms are complex mixtures of proteins, nucleotides and inorganic ions’ (Koh, Armugam, and Jeyaseelan 2006:3030). This mixtures form the collection of toxic properties with the peptides and polypeptides being responsible for most of these toxic properties. The glands that make this venom are known as the plarotid salivary gland, these glands also have storage (large alveoli) for synthesized venom. There are 4 types of snake venoms, haemotoxins which attack the circulatory system, neurotoxins which attack the nervous system, cytotoxins which cause blood and plasma leakage into tissues and myotoxins which destroy muscle tissue at the bite area and throughout the body (http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-snake/Pages/Causes.aspx).
Two professors studying the sense of hearing of snakes came to realize that a few snakes but not all inject venom with their fangs into their victims (Technische Universitaet Mue...
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...ui (2007) ‘after isolating ACTX-6 from Agkistrodon acutus snake venom discovered its cytotoxic components on cancer cells in vitro by inducing cell death due to the production of ROS . More studies on other venoms like Okinawa Habu venom and Eastern Indian Daboia russelli russelli venom have also shown apoptosis inducing characteristics’.
Cobrotoxin a short chain α-neurotoxin has been seen to be able to replace morphine and also prevent the morphine withdrawals. Also a α-neurotoxin known as ophiophagus Hannah from the king cobra has exhibited analgesic effects. It has also been reported that some of these venoms can be used in research to find cure for other diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s due to their ability to recognize muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and their high potency and selectivity to muscarinic toxins which are a great interest in trea
How the World was Made and How the Snake Got Its Poison are both myths that were told for the enjoyment of all ages especially children. This paper will include an extensive analysis of the two myths/folktales. Zora Neale Hurston and Katharine Berry are excellent and fictional writers. Although the two writers write fictional myths, both writers create very different scenarios and write from different point of views. A close examination of the way both stories share the similarity of having animals with major roles demonstrates man had no input or power in the creation of the Earth or any of the animals that lived on it.
Common Name: Burmese Python Scientific Name: Python Molurus Bivittatus I. Introduction One of the five largest species of snakes in the world is now finding a home in the Florida Everglades. The Burmese python has a dark colored eye-catching patterned skin and is known for its calm and relaxed temperament. Because of the attractiveness of their skin pattern and docile nature, it is one of the large snakes of choice among reptile owners. Unfortunately, these snakes can reach huge lengths and weigh upwards of 200lbs making them difficult to keep. As carnivores, Burmese pythons kept as pets need a diet of small rodents or rabbits.
The snake’s calm demeanor when they first meet, his confidence and power, and his gruesome death help evoke sympathy in the reader. The reader’s first impression of the snake is that “he held his ground in calm watchfulness.” His stance was tense, but not threatening, as “his head was not drawn back to strike.” He does not intend to attack without being provoked; he
The effect the reader perceives in the passage of Rattler is attained from the usage of the author¡¯s imagery. The author describes the pre-action of the battle between the man and the snake as a ¡°furious signal, quite sportingly warning [the man] that [he] had made an unprovoked attack, attempted to take [the snake¡¯s] life... ¡± The warning signal is portrayed in order to reveal the significance of both the man¡¯s and the snake¡¯s value of life. The author sets an image of how one of their lives must end in order to keep the world in peace. In addition, the author describes how ¡°there was blood in [snake¡¯s] mouth and poison dripping from his fangs; it was all a nasty sight, pitiful now that it was done.¡± This bloody image of snake¡¯s impending death shows the significance of the man¡¯s acceptance toward the snake. In a sense, the reader can interpret the man¡¯s sympathy toward the snake because of the possibility that he should have let him go instead of killing him.
The snake was not aware of the man’s intentions was cautious but not yet preparing for an attack. The rattlesnake “lay ridged” through its mistrust of the man did not feel threatened so his “body was undulant” not preparing for an attack. Because of its natural instincts the snake was wary of the man’s presence but did not feel provoked enough to set up a defense. The usual instincts would have been to give a strong attack but choose not to do so. Still attentive to the man’s possible actions, the snake presents him with a warning for both their sake. Therefore as the man raised his weapon the snake set up its rattling and “shook his fair but furious signal” warning the man he “made an unprovoked attack”. The snake had not planned on attacking the man so instead of reacting swiftly the snake had given the man a warning. By doing so the snake shows its value of life because he left the man chance in avoiding an outcome with death for either side. Consequently having misjudged the man’s intent it is left with little time to protect itself from an unexpected attack. With the man suddenly attacking the snake with a hoe it “struck passionately” until it “was soon dead”. As a result of not being able to assemble an attack the snake is left with it’s only chance of winning by striking hard but with ineffective moves. Thus readers feel sympathy for the snake because it had not called for an attack that would have taken either
In the 100 years after aspirin’s birth, although people appreciate its function of pain-curing, no one knew how aspirin actually works until the late 1990s. In the 1970s scientists learned that it is the release of prostaglandins, the molecules which are similar to hormone, after injuries that cause fever and inflammation. The analysis of PGHS (prostaglandin H2 synthase), the enzyme that produces prostaglandin finally reveals the working process of aspirin. The enzyme is surrounded by 2 protein subunit, arachidonic acid, a basic component of prostaglandin, travels through the channel in between the two protein subunits to the core of the PGHS enzyme. Aspirin molecule splits into two, saliucylic acid and acetytl group, after entering the channel of the PGHS enzyme. With the acetyl group blocking the entrance of the channel, arachidonic acid cannot get access to the core of the PGHS enzyme, hence stop the production of prostaglandin.
“Snakes” is a short story written by Danielle Evans. In this selection, a young girl visits her white grandmother during the summer, while her parents are in Brazil. There were many problems with race in this story since Tara, the key character and narrator, is mixed. Her Caucasian mother has trouble combing her hair and her grandmother was uncomfortable with her skin color. All the characters in this story have good intentions but have no idea how to deal with certain situations, which ends up with them having disastrous outcomes, such as Tara’s mother, Amanda, making her stay with her mother, Lydia but no understanding that she would be treated poorly, Lydia was responsible for the children but had no clue how to manage them, and lastly, Tara wanted to be with her mother but didn’t have any way to get back with her.
When sea wasp senses a certain chemical in the area they release venom that is held in the stinging cells.
Poisons come in different forms and act in different ways. They can act locally, absorption through the body, or both. There are three different categories that poisons are put into: inorganic, organic, and asphyxiants...
The comparison of the rattlesnake to a bigger, more frightening, and yet less deadly creature makes the former seem dangerous. While a blacksnake would “flee at the sight of a man”, the rattler proved its fearlessness with the way he “held his ground”. The rattler is cocky, and for good reason, because his poison could kill the man much easier than the theoretical blacksnake could. The man is in a life-threatening situation and the reader is likely to sympathize with his fear and worry. The author uses violent diction when describing the snake to make us see him as a vicious creature, in need of killing to keep others safe. Even dead, the rattler “may still bite”. He needs to be kept as far as possible from people - especially vulnerable people, such as young children - in order to protect them. The author includes this hostile wording to bring awareness to the fact that the snake is remorseless, even in death, and that taking its life is noble and just. Finally, the snake’s “little song of death” is personified negatively by the man to show that the snake is the villain in the story. Life is, according to the rattlesnake, “dear and would be dearly sold”. It comes to light in this phrase that the snake is looking for revenge from the man’s actions. The rattler is not as innocent as he may have initially seemed. As he attempts at the man’s life to bring
The sight of the snake is so heartbreaking that even the man is left to rethink
... to discover if there is an unlikely downside, but also to discover if one venom may be used to combat multiple ailments.
Ménez, Andre’. The Subtle Beast: Snakes, from Myth to Medicine. New York, New York: CRC Press, 2003.
(Murnaghan, 2013). There are two types of drugs that can cause death. One that is too strong for the animal to take in and another type is where the drug kills