More on the healing power of venom

When you think of snake venom, the last thing most people think of is its healing properties. But from pain to cancer, venom of a variety of creatures is offering new options in health care. NOVA has the story on their new interactive blog:

For hundreds of millions of years, evolution has been perfecting its own brand of biological warfare: venom. The toxic compounds in venom are finely honed weapons capable of launching precision attacks against cells in the nervous system, bloodstream, and organs. Now, medical researchers are tapping these potent chemical cocktails to develop new therapies for cancer, heart disease, and chronic pain. Nature’s swords, it turns out, can make powerful medical ploughshares.

To see the six species highlighted, click here.