Snake venom is one of nature’s most sophisticated bioweapons, containing toxins that cause their victims’ bodies to turn against themselves.Now scientists have found the reason why these poisons are so potent: They’re made of altered proteins from body tissues located throughout the snake’s body.The findings might even help researchers someday turn deadly venoms into lifesaving medicines.The new study, published in the March issue of Genome Research, provides the first comprehensive analysis of the origin and evolution of snake venoms.Research conducted by Bryan Grieg Fry, of the University of Melbourne, Australia, has identified the origin of all 24 known types of snake toxin.
