A recent study shows that in the distant future, humans may evolve to such a situation: Our saliva may be poisonous, just like snake venom.
humans may evolve oral venom in the future, they have been searching for the gene interaction between the venom of the Okinawa Institute of Technology and the Japanese
span span The genetic basis required for the evolution of venom exists in both reptiles and mammals, indicating that humans may have evolved venom.
This study also provides for the first time concrete evidence that there is a potential molecular connection between snake venom glands and mammalian salivary glands. The latest research on snakes reveals the ancient functions of oral venom, the researchers involved in the study said Venom is a protein mixture. Animals use venom into weapons to immobilize and kill prey, as well as for self-defense.
venom is very interesting and mysterious. It appears in many different animals, such as jellyfish, spiders, scorpions, snakes, and even some mammals. Although these animals have evolved different ways of transporting venom, the oral system The venom produced enters the body through a bite and is the most common type.
venom "cooperative gene"
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_span a kind of invasive snake in Taiwan They have already established a foothold in Okinawa. At present, researchers have mapped its "venom genes", looking for genes related to venom genes and strongly interacting with venom genes
Previously, scientists were concerned about the protein-coding genes that constitute the toxic mixture, but The latest research focuses on the interaction between different genes. Scientists say that many of the toxins currently found in snake venom have been established and later absorbed in the oral venom system. They need to study those genes that exist before the venom is produced, especially The genes that promote the production of the venom system. Therefore, the research team turned to look for genes that are related to and strongly interact with venom genes. They studied the venom of the Taiwan Habu snake.
Researchers have identified about 3,000 of these “cooperative genes” and found that they play an important role in protecting cells from stress caused by the production of large amounts of protein. This gene also regulates protein modification. And the key to folding, when a protein is formed, the long chain of amino acids must be folded together in a specific way, and misfolded proteins can also accumulate and destroy cells.
Just like folding errors when making origami, one wrong step can prevent the protein from forming the shape required for normal function. Baru explained that these genes play a very important role in the unfolded protein response pathway. Meaning, because venom is a complex mixture of proteins, so in order to ensure that all proteins can be made, a powerful system is needed to ensure that the proteins fold correctly so that they can function effectively.
In the picture, the cobra is one of the most famous venomous snake species in the world. Although humans are still unable to produce venom, their genes can achieve
strong10 strong natural production of venom in animals Toxic substances
Venom is a toxic substance secreted by animals,As a defense and attack mechanism, it has evolved in predators and prey. They kill cells through necrotic toxins, cytotoxins, neurotoxin that affects the nervous system, and myotoxins that affect muscles.
Different from other toxic substances, the venom is released through biting, stabbing or similar behaviors, rather than simply ingested. According to statistics, animal venom kills tens of thousands of people every year, but they are also used to treat many Disease provides an important basis. The only known poisonous mammals so far are grooved shrews, shrews, vampire bats, male platypus and slow loris. The researchers then observed the genomes of other creatures in the animal kingdom, including dogs, chimpanzees and humans. Of mammals, found that they contain their own unique genetic characteristics.
The only known venomous mammals so far are grooved shrews, shrews, vampire bats, male platypus and slow loris. Mammals, including dogs, chimpanzees and humans, have found that they have their own unique genetic characteristics
mammalian salivary glands retain the ancient functional core similar to snake venom gland _span _span _span _span1 strong When the research team looked at the salivary gland tissue of mammals, they found that these genes resembled the activity patterns of snake venom glands. Therefore, scientists believe that the salivary glands of mammals and the venom glands of snakes have similar ancient functional cores.This functional core has been maintained since these two lineages separated hundreds of millions of years ago.
The scientists involved in the research said: Many scientists intuitively believe this to be true, but this is the first truly reliable evidence that the venom gland evolved from the early salivary glands. Early snakes added many different toxins to their venom during the evolutionary process, increasing the number of genes that produce venom, while mammals like shrews produce venom that is simpler and very similar to saliva.
He explained that the function of salivary glands can be easily transformed into venom, which is very surprising, and this may mean that scientists are beginning to look at other mammals in a disturbing new perspective. Relevant experiments in the 1980s showed that when a male mouse saliva produces a highly toxic compound, if under certain ecological conditions, the mouse that produces more toxic protein in the saliva has a better reproductive success rate, then several thousand Years later, we may encounter poisonous mice in the body.
Whether mice continue to develop on this evolutionary path remains to be further verified, but this does blur the line between toxic and non-toxic species. Moreover, if there are suitable ecological conditions, humans may also become toxic, although this possibility is very small. Currently, this latest research report is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (Ye Qingcheng)
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