Venom: Nature’s Killer
Consider the video, Venom: Nature’s Killer, you recently watched in class and then post a thoughtful reflection. You may limit your comments to your own ideas or you may expand upon those offered by your classmates; either way, you’ll need to cite evidence from at least one source to support your opinion (a journal article, podcast, video on YouTube, etc). When citing a source, make sure you provide the URL. This assignment is worth ten points and is due by 11:59pm on Wednesday, Sept 25, 2012.
Rubric:
Zero points = no comments
Seven points = comments but no source cited and/or more than two misspellings
Eight points = comments, source cited but awkward sentence(s) and/or two misspellings
Ten points = comments, source cited, correct grammar, and one or fewer misspelling(s)
Topics to consider for discussion:
- What are your thoughts about the scientists and situations you saw in the video? Is there a particular statement or issue that caused you to think differently?
- What, if any, progress has been made in treating people with proteins from venom?
- During one scene in the video, Dr. Angel Yanagihara delivers a lethal dose of the Chironex venom, the Australian box jelly, to a mouse. Within minutes the mouse is in distress and appears near death at which point Dr. Yanagihara injects a trial blocker to save the mouse. What are your thoughts regarding the use of animals as test subjects?
101 responses so far
It was really scary watching what the viper snakes venom did to the little girl in the video. She was hyper ventilating and her muscles were firing rapidly everywhere. The other girl had internal bleeding and full body bruises. I thought for sure both of these victims would die but due to the anti-venom that the doctors gave them helped survive. Thankfully these snakes only attack when threatened. http://www.manolith.com/2012/07/13/this-is-what-snake-venom-does-to-your-blood-video/
It was very interesting at the beginning of the video it was being said that different animals venoms could help cure brain cancer and series diseases like that. So the animals that we dread and could kill us within minutes such as snakes and spiders could also be used to help us cure series deceases that we have been trying to find a cure for for years.
My opinion on animal testing is that lower level animals such as mice and insects are okay because there are millions and millions of them. But animals such as monkeys are not okay to test on. There are disturbing statics that are shown due to animal testing such as
-Animal testing costs the American public over $136 billion annually.
- Drugs that pass animal tests end up harming or killing humans about 61% of the time.
- Between 25 and 50 billion animals are meaninglessly killed in laboratories each year.
After finding these statistics animal testing begins to look worse and worse in my eyes. But once again I feel it is okay to test on lower level animals like mice. Statistics found at http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090110131451AAXis6m
I think that the testing with animals is not exactly moral but I do see where it helps us learn more about venom and what we can do to find anti-venom. It is obvious that the animals get the shorter end of the stick but a lot information that is learned from testing on animals to help develop solutions to save lives of people everywhere. It was amazing to just see how potent venom can be and how it can destroy the human body in a matter of minutes. At the same time as the video pointed out, these venoms can be used to help with diabetes, stokes, and other health problems. One more thought to go along with the testing of venom on the mouse in the video. At the end of the experiment they were able to stabilize the mouse and it recovered. I was very happy to see that the little mouse did not die and the scientist found a key to solving the jellyfish venom problem, a double win. On this website I read about one of the anti-venoms and found it fascinating that it was made with purified sheep immunoglobulin and it has been used in over 100 cases successfully.
http://www.avru.org/compendium/biogs/A000042b.htm
I found this video to be very interesting. It is hard to understand that venom can be used to cure diseases in people. It’s also weird that anti-venom comes from the venom itself. Some of the venom’s potency is simply astounding. One creature that I had heard of but did not know a lot about was the cone snail. Having enough venom to kill three to four in a harpoon the size of an hypodermic needle is simply astounding. The way that the scientists extracted the venom from all the creatures was fascinating. I hate spiders so seeing one get shocked did not really bother me. I also found it extremely interesting when they did the test with the mouse. Bringing it back from the brink of death to a seemingly normal state was very cool. It makes sense to use mice because they reproduce quickly and we know a lot about their gene code (http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/908-why-do-medical-researchers-use-mice.html). I have also heard that their gene code is similar to that of humans. I do not have a moral issue with doing this because it can save millions of lives. Overall I found the video to be very interesting and it kept me watching the entire time (which normally is not the case with a video in school).
The video showed new views and information about venom that I had never heard of before. Venom is dangerous and can kill animals and humans in minutes. It was very strange to watch victims of attacks where they had venom in their bodies. The neurotoxins in venom interfere with the communication of nerve cells. The interference cause muscles to freeze. Neurotoxins can sometimes set off the cells and causes the muscles to spasm. The venom can attack the blood or nervous system too, sometimes resulting in fatal results. However, the video showed that anti-venom can be created from venom and act like vaccines. The antibodies bind to toxins to neutralize them if used correctly. I think it is amazing that something like this can be discovered. Over the past few years, researchers have been looking into this more and more. As shown in Venom: Nature’s Killer and a PBS special I found online titled “The Venom Cure”, scientists believe that the “venom of animals we fear the most may one day soon be helping us solve or alleviate a wide range of life-threatening medical problems.” It is truly amazing how far we have have come in science.
“The Venom Cure” clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAUdkiEn40o
This video really changed the way I view some venomous animals. Spiders are without a doubt my least favorite creatures on the face of the earth. Snakes and all ocean animals are a close second. I always thought, why keep them alive if they are just harmful to humans? But, now I think differently on that issue. This video taught me that they can be useful to humans. The very venom that can kill us can also keep us alive. Drugs made from special toxins in venom are the only chance we have at staying alive in some instances. Most of these animals are going extinct, and even though I truly want to cry when I see some of these animals, I believe now that we need to fight to save them not only for their own good, but for the human race’s.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-reptiles-snakes/venomous-cures/2913/
Throughout watching this video it really caught my attention and I wanted to keep watching when it was over. I find it remarkable how science has evolved into turning some of the most potent chemicals we know into life savers and cures for diseases. Prior to watching the video I have always been terrified of spiders and snakes, but now I know how beneficial they can be to us and future medicines, therefore I have much more respect for them and one day might even be interested in researching them. (I will always a fear towards them though!) Even today there are medicines that save numerous lives as a direct result from venomous animals. This video has completely changed my outlook on venomous animals. http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes
During most of the movie, I was disgusted by the horror stories of venom poisining. Towards the end of the movie, they finally introduced all the positive aspects of these deathly creatures. The study of venom can almost be seen as the glass half full, or half empty. You can look at venom as a deathly cocktail, or you could look at it as a life saving mechanism. Personally, I love the idea of looking at all the positive aspects. If we could compensate the number of deaths by venom, by the number of times lives that were saved by it, we could maybe learn to tolerate the slithering, swimming, and scurrying creatures. I found a video from PBS (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-venom-cure/video-full-episode/5396/) which is called “The Venom Cure.” The PBS episode takes a stand on all the positive aspects of venom compared to the negative aspects in Venom: Nature’s Killer. “The Venom Cure” shows us that although venom could be fatal, we are discovering many ways to incorporate it into vaccines to battle many of our life threatening diseases and conditions.
I thought the video was very interesting. I knew that venom was dangerous, but I had no idea that the very animals we fear are being used to treat people with diseases. Another fact I found interesting was the fact that more people are being saved by snakes every year than by dying from them like people using insulin for diabetes. I also did not realize that through the many types of venom scientists extract from an animal can the venom be used to treat a human with a similar disease.
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-does-snake-venom-affect-the-human-body.htm#
I enjoyed this video very much. It was interesting to learn about how dealy venom is but also how it can be very helpful. The creature that interested me the most was the cone snail. I like how it uses its harpoon like weapon to shoot and capture pray. It is one of the slowest moving predators but also the deadliest. I also think it is very interesting how their venom can be used as a pain reliever. Certain toxins in its venom are even more powerful than a lot of drugs on the market for blocking pain. I got this info from http://www.theconesnail.com/explore-cone-snails/medicinal-uses
At the start on the movie, I thought it would be hard to watch because I personally hate snakes, spiders, and especially jelly fish, but throughout the video, I kept finding interesting facts. Although the scenes where they showed the little girl barely alive, or the other girl bruised from her ribs to her feet, were very disturbing, they were some of the things that caught my attention most. When doing a little more research on the body’s reaction to a snakebite, I was really surprised by just how much one bite can affect the body. Some of the symptoms i found were, blurriness in vision, dizziness, headache, fainting, and increased thirst, difficulty with breathing, weakness, vomiting, and an all around numbness of the body. While there are so many bad things done to the body by venom, it can be beneficial in some cases. I had no idea that venom could even be used to help people, since all we seem to hear about it how it hurts and kills people. http://www.factzoo.com/reptiles/snakes/snake-venom-bite-first-aid.html
I have often thought of snake venom as a dangerous and harmful biochemical weapon, so I was skeptical about the idea of using it to heal as well. I still think it’s a little bit crazy to walk around the forests of Vietnam looking for venemous snakes. But studying snake venom is the only way to know how venom works and how to possibly cure people by “undoing” the proteins that make up the venom.
As well as watching the video, I read this article: http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/14896522/snake-venom-could-unlock-disease-cures-study/
If we can use snake venom to “undo” the proteins that make up cancerous tissues, we could effectively find an alternative to chemotherapy, radiation, and other harmful cancer treatments. In that case, I am all for the continuing study of venomous snakes.
The progress that has stemmed from the study and use of venom has been quite enlightening as to what these toxins can do for humans. In the documentary Venom: Nature’s Killers, there are many ways in which venom is used to counteract diseases. Through further study I discovered another scientist who has been trying to find a positive use for venom. One scientist named R. Manjunatha Kini has studied the venom of the mangrove snake. In his studies he has discovered denmotoxin, something that has only been discovered in the mangrove snake. This is the first ever specie-specific toxin that has been found. Though the primary use of this venom is on birds and does not seem to have a major impact on that of mammals, it is important to realize that there are toxins that are specific to every species. With the hope of using these proteins to cure diseases such diabetes, cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and strokes, the use of venom as a cure is vitally important. In other studies, Professor Kini of VCU and the University of Singapore has created an anticoagulant that could help prevent difficulties with cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease. The primary lesson that I gained from the documentary is that we as humans have so much more to gain from these animals and that we must not let them become extinct. The creatures of our greatest fears may soon become the heroes of people’s every day lives. The link that I used for this information is http://www.news.vcu.edu/news/Toxic_snake_venom_to_fight_human_disease
This movie was so eye-opening in my opinion. I had no idea that so many important and life-saving medicines came from venom. I really admire the scientists who risk their lives in order to find these animals and perform research. I find it incredible interesting that within minutes, a snake bite or jellyfish sting could claim a person’s life. In my additional research (http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes), I found that two frequently used medicines for heart attacks are derived from the poison of rattlesnakes. It is amazing that scientists have discovered how to alter venom in a beneficial way for humans. This just proves that nature is vital to our existence as human beings, and if we destroy those resources, we will never know what we could have gained from them.
One line from the movie that really stuck out to me was when one of the scientists said, “People will only keep it around if they can make money off of it.” As sad as this is, I must agree. If I could convince the world that we should preserve nature for its inherent value rather than its monetary value, I would. I believe so strongly in preserving nature that this tactic is as good as any–if it works, I will use it. So we should keep spreading the word that every part of nature holds value and can be harnessed to make money, or more importantly, save lives.
The video Venom, really sparked my curiosity about venomous animals. I had always heard that some venomous animals had been used to help cure certain diseases, but I had no idea that it was to this extreme. It was really interesting to see how these dangerous animals and insects can kill us, but also save our lives. That is a weird concept to think about. It makes me think about the saying, “everything happens for a reason.” God put these animals on our earth. They have the ability to kill humans, but also the ability to save them. That is really interesting to think about. In the video, Dr. Angel Yanagihara used a mouse to test a possible solution that could potentially save lives. I personally do not think all animal testing is bad, but I believe there should be limits. Animal testing is extremely helpful in the sense that it helps scientists test possible cures to thousands of diseases. It has also helped the world of science better understand some diseases, which then leads to finding a cure. I think that if it has the potential to save thousands and thousands of lives that it is worth testing. Another advantage is that it does not solely help just humans. It helps the animals as well. Since animal testing has been done, house pets and many others have had longer life spans and healthier life styles. However, there are some disadvantages to animal testing. A lot of reasons people are against animal testing is they believe it is unethical and morally wrong. I do not disagree with that, but I also do not disagree with animal testing. In some cases, animal testing has hindered the science world because genetically and physically animals are different from humans, so not everything can or will work the same way on humans as it may for animals.
http://www.pro-test.org.uk/facts.php?lt=c
http://www.angelfire.com/hi5/pinkskittle/vivisection/disadvantages.html
I really enjoyed the video, Venom: Nature’s Killer because it had a good mixture of useful information and it was also very entertaining when these scientists would venture out into the world and actually catch the animals and insects they were researching. I really liked the stunning facts and real life stories these scientists told. They were very impactful and showed me as a viewer how dangerous these animals and insects really are. A personal story from my life had to deal with one of these dangerous creatures mentioned in the video. I was once stung by a boxer jellyfish in southern Florida in 2005. It wrapped around my ankle and didn’t let go until a lifeguard removed it. Hearing in the video that the cousin of that jellyfish, the Australian boxer jellyfish could kill someone in the matter of minutes made me realize how significant that sting in 2005 could have been. That is why I was so happy to see process being made in creating anti-venom for these bites as well as finding cures for heart disease and cancer, both of which have taken the lives of my close family members. This information is supported by many websites including http://www.bachem.com/research-products/melusine/drug-discovery-with-venoms/ that also included that venoms are also being used in developing drugs to fight not only cancerous cells and tumor, but also will fight heart disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, allergies, diabetes and microbial infections. Those facts were all taken as of 2011, so in retrospect, I believe that we can only go forward in advancing these venom based drugs and I believe that someday when I need something to save me on my deathbed, venom based drugs will have a major role in saving my life.
I found the video on venom to be very interesting, as I had no realized how many different ways venom could attack the body. While it can attack blood cells, it can also attack the nervous system. They do not each work the same way, which creates the differences in reaction and severity. This was shown by the different victims in the video who had a variety of symptoms from bruising to paralysis. I found it interesting to learn that scientists analyze the different proteins to discover new types that can be used in medicine. These proteins can be used in a range of things from treating brain cancer to helping relieve muscular dystrophy, which I learned from http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/breakthroughs/the-positive-power-in-deadly-poison#slide-3. I think that the treatments we can derive from the venom justify the use of animals in testing, as long as there are regulations. We need to be able to test the medicines before trying them out on actual patients. This video gave me a new appreciation for the many venomous animals, which we usually think of as pests. We need to take the time to understand these animals instead of just destroying them, because it may save many lives.
Chris Land
The movie Venom is very interesting. I honestly hate any venomous creature but this video was eye-opening. I would never have thought that the venom in snakes could be used to heal. One thing i couldn’t help to think about is the venom the lady uses in the movie “Holes”. Something that is unbelievable is the fact that more people are saved by venom then killed by it. This video is cool because it shows how much venom can be used, that being said i still hate all venomous creatures. I found some very interesting information about snake venom on http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes. It talks a lot about how rattlesnake venom is used in medicine. I would never have guess that. Spiders are still terrifying because i have seen pictures of what their venom can do and it is just disgusting. Overall, this video was very interesting because it shows both the good and bad of venoms.
At first, I found this video more grotesque rather than interesting. The video was certainly fitting my personal idea of venom. It was dangerous and deadly. The little girl was proof of this concept. It also bothered me seeing that harmless little mouse getting venom delivered into its body. However, I feel that we need to use animals as test subjects because it can save human lives in the end. As much as I would like it if we did not need to use animals as test subjects, I understand that it is helpful. As the movie went on, my perspective was switched because I finally understood the uses and good in venom. I thought the situation of venom only had a bad side. I was proven wrong because venom has beneficial factors. Thanks to the scientists, we have these discoveries. The scientists who explored the aspects of venom are such brave and optimistic individuals because they give up the safety of their life and give it to others. This website discusses that certain venom has proteins that will latch onto receptors. This means that depending on which receptor it joins, venom may be able to alter and improve diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Someday, venom will be thought of as good rather than frightening.
http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes
I thought that the box jellyfish was the most intresting out of all the animals. Of course everyone knows that spider bites and snake bits can be very dangerous, but who knew about jellyfish? I know we’ve all seen the movie Finding Nemo where Marlin and Dory go through many jelly fish and are just “shocked”. Now that I know they are very deadly I know NOT to go near them. I have a new perspective on all of these animals. Yes, they might be deadly, but who wouldn’t want to find a cure to help their grandma. I know I want to find a cure for cancer and diabetes and other deadly diseases and if deadly venom’s DNA can be altered to asave my grandma, SIGN HER UP! I found this video on youtube, and it tells about the box jellyfish stings and how they affect your body.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2KR8LypESI
I thought this video was very interesting because I never knew that venom could be used for cures. It was scary to see the little girl react to the venom the way she did in the hospital. she was shaking one minute and then was fine once they cured her. I never knew octopus’ could be dangerous! The blue-ringed octopus was very deathly! According to http://myexposition.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/5-most-venomous-animals-on-earth-the-interesting-facts/, the blue-ringed octopus is arguably the most venomous animal on the planet. I would have thought that a rattlesnake would be the most venomous animal on the planet. if someone found the cure to cancer through the use of venom it would be great because it would save so many lives. Venom does bring a lot of deaths, but it can save lives too.
Venom: Nature’s Killer was a very interesting and extraordinary movie. It was crazy to see how venomous some of those animals are out there. However, we also saw how helpful these animals can be in medical advances and saving the lives of others. The video made me aware of just how deadly and unique some animals are. Some of there venom can kill in hours. These animals have adapted venom to protect and survive in the wild. The one thing that made me cring the most was how we extract the venom from these animals. The girl dying from a snake bite and the hairy spiders didn’t phase me as much as our treatment toward these animals did. I know that they are getting the venom in the most humane way, but the practices just didn’t seem right. I guess its for a greater cause like cures and pills, rather than a little pain towards a small snake. “The extraction process is highly stressful to the animal, so extraction should only be done once every three months with a given animal.” This quote brings up another point other than pain towards the animal. Is it right to hold an animal in captivity for all this time to extract a tiny amount of venom yearly? I think it is okay as long as they are treated well and the people who are treating them are animal lovers. Venom is so powerful, and we need it to advance our medicine and health. This video showed how incredible and useful this stuff is.
http://www.venomlist.com/forums/index.php?/topic/27783-extracting-snake-venom/
I learned a lot about the dangers of venom throughout this video. Venom is fascinating in the way it attacks the human. Before watching this video I knew that venom was very deadly, but I did not realize how many different species can actually produce venom. I was also stunned to learn that just one jelly fish tentacle was enough to kill a human being. It’s nasty to see all the different types of spiders that are very deadly.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-venom-cure/video-full-episode/5396/
In this video, they discuss many benefits of venom especially the improvements to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. I didn’t realize how much venom can actually do in the field of medicine these days. It is cool that such a horrific thing that kills people can actually help people at the same time.
The progress that the scientist have done to treat people with venom proteins is slow. They have been researching and testing venom proteins to combat many illnesses. One I read about is treating cancer. In this article, it talks about how a concentration of venom can help stop cancer from spreading. The limitation they have right now, is that they are only using test rats and petri dishes to do their experiments and haven’t gotten the all clear to use human test subjects. The only side effect right now is bleeding or oozing where the venom is put because it makes the blood not clot. Other scientists are trying to make the protein form other substances so it’s cheaper and safer. http://cancerdefeated.com/newsletters/Snake-Venom-New%20Hope-For-Cancer-Treatment.html
I really enjoyed watching this video. Hearing all of these stories really opened my eyes and now I am very interested in how venom can be used for cures. Although, I don’t entirely think that torturing these animals is a fair way of testing these new experiments, if it can end up helping many humans in the future I guess it could be worth it. I found that there are two drugs on the market that are from snake venom proteins that prevent heart attacks. These two drugs, eptifibatide and tirofiban, have been used since 1998 to treat people with minor heart attacks or people who have chest pains indicating that they might start to suffer a heart attack. This information shows that venom has started to impact humans lives but I have a feeling it will become a lot larger in medicine because with these big experiments slowly it will evolve into great cures. I would much rather use the venom from these creatures to help humans rather than let them continue to kill humans so unexpectedly and tragically. http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes
I thought this movie about Venom was very interesting and always kept my attention. Most venomous creatures scare me to death and I have always wished for all venomous animals to die. After watching this video I realize how important these animals are even though they can kill you. I never really knew that venom could save someone’s life. This movie was insightful and provided me with much new information. I think it is courageous of the scientists that capture these dangerous creatures in order to help others. The one animal that particularly surprised me was a Conus sea snail. I never thought such a slow animal could be extremely dangerous. As its deadly venom enters your body you may take comfort know that your death, though slow, may be painless. This painlessness is what researchers are interested in questing for a new painkiller drug. Today, patients who don’t get relief from morphine may receive an injection of Prialt, a synthetic version of a toxin in the venom of the Conus magus snail, which halts pain signals to the brain by blocking calcium channels in never cells. Even though Prialt is a thousand times more powerful than morphine, it is still non-addictive. Prialt could become the main source of painkillers in the future. I completely disagree with what Dr. Angel Yanagihara did to the mouse. She put the mouse through a lot of harm. Even though she saved the mouse, she still hurt it. I think testing on animals in any way is wrong. Animals have feelings just like humans and deserve the right to life just as much as humans do.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/venoms-healing-bite.html
I thought this was a very interesting video, but at the same time I was scared to death. I have always been scared of spiders and snakes. I am glad that I watched this video because it opened my eyes to the fact that they can be helpful at times. I love the fact that they are trying to use venom to help cure things but I also think it is weird that the same thing that is being used to help save someone could also be something that is killing them. The fact that they tested it on the mouse was probably helpful, but so unfair to the mouse. I think animal testing can be so wrong at times. In this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QRBcHIIsXc), a PETA Anti Animal Testing video, it talks about how wrong animal testing is. It really put into the perspective the fact that the animals don’t know what is going on. I think that animal testing is something that should be looked further into.
Even though this video slightly scared me, I really enjoyed watching it. I never knew that these powerful substances that could kill us in minutes could also save our lives. It is just so incredible to think about the power of nature and all the unknown processes of the natural world that still remain to be discovered. I really do appreciate the scientists that risk their lives to try and discover ways to treat serious life-threatening issues using venom. It takes a lot of courage and also a lot of passion for their work to do so. I looked on youtube for a video discussing animal testing and I think this is a great video that gives both sides of the story. The video shows protests that occurred at UCLA for testing on animals for medical reasons. The video also lets us hear opinions from lab researchers that actually perform testing on animals. Like this youtube video, I also have two separate opinions on the topic. I think that while animal testing is cruel, it is also necessary to discover new cures and treatments that could end up saving many lives. Without the researchers testing on animals with venom, we may never find cures to our world’s biggest medical problems. Overall, I really enjoyed learning about the research being performed in the video and I found it to be very interesting.
and i forgot to attach the link of the video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0QXUHeGeOc&feature=related
http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes —
It’s amazing to know that one thing, venom, could kill you, but also save your life. Many of these issues include drop in blood pressure, paralysis, and extensive bleeding. The video had an interesting perspective because of the fact that it started talking about only the negatives of these deadly snakes. Toward the end, they went into more depth about the extensive uses and importance of the venom. The venom hits the key pathways the body uses to keep its blood flowing and the nervous system working properly, therefore, changing some of the characteristics in which the venom acts, can create a medicine that has the ability to cure cancer.
Throughout the whole video, I was amazed at what nature itself can behold. While technology today can barely replicate the chemical warfare that some creatures on Earth have made, at least now and for the next few years, humans most likely will not be able to perfect making the same weapons that evolution made, and are seemingly more unlikely to stop them as well. How can one stop a weapon if they do not know what it is completely? According to the video there are thousands, possibly even millions of types venom on Earth while only few hundred have studied completely. The amount of anti-venom produced from these studied types of venom is lower still, and the amount being made is being approved by the FDA so slowly that it almost seems insignificant. The one significance that is driving the scientists and bug-catchers to collect the venom and study it is not their good will to help humanity, but the amount of the potential money that could come along with it. With all of the untapped cures for venom literally on the rock that we live on, the money supply could be potentially endless.
I actually genuinely found the video “Venom: Natures Killers” highly interesting. I hate snakes, and at first, I could not imagine anyone’s motivation to hunt them down. What I at first dismissed as a borderlline suicidal hobby, the video explained was actually a very constructive mission which was undertaken for the sake of medicine. The idea of reengineering genetic code found in venom in order to combat the negative effects invoked by the same substance is incredibly interesting. The proceedures taken to extract the venom was also something I was interested in seeing. Finally, the cone snail was clearly the highlight of the video. All the animals documented in the video were said to employ “chemical warfare,” but the fact that the cone snail has actually developed its own weapon warranted further investigation. http://www.theconesnail.com/explore-cone-snails/venom
I thought that the scene consisting of injecting box-jelly venom into the mouse was somewhat disturbing. To watch that mouse suffer and almost die was pretty horrific stuff but I think everyone was relieved when the mouse was given the anti-venom and recovered pretty incredibly. Though putting the mouse through that was pretty unpleasant to watch animal testing can lead to lots of breakthroughs in the field of medicine that could one day save thousands of lives, not only that but there are so many products that are available due to the progress made through animal testing and although it may not be the most ideal way to gather insight and test hypothesis right now it is the best way we have. The article I’ve posted lists the arguments for and against animal testing as well as outlining the genreral purpose of animal testing and it’s uses in the field of medicine. In my opinion testing on animals is a necessary evil for now so that we may be sure that we do not endanger an unnecessary amount of people with untested treatments.
http://www.avert.org/hiv-animal-testing.htm
Brian Coppinger
I really enjoyed the Venom video. I found it very interesting, and yet somewhat creepy. I am not a fan of spiders. But the findings about the box jelly and their tentacles were very cool. When Dr. Angel Yanagihara administered the lethal dose of Chironex venom into the mouse, she was testing the effects of the anti-venom. At first, it was kind of scary to watch. I thought that the mouse was going to die. But thankfully, it did not. After this scene, it got me thinking about how animals are the test subjects for human problems. I found the website http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12906883 which talked about animal experimentation. While some can argue that it is wrong what scientists do to test for some things on animals, it is necessary. Just think, if we tested the effects of venom and anti-venom on humans, what would people say? Plus, mice are very close matches to humans-regarding DNA. It is helpful that we use animals to help find medical answers.
I actually love this sort of work. I grew up fascinated with shows like Steve Irwin: Crocodile Hunter and Jeff Corwin. I loved watching humans interact with dangerous animals, they are such a mystery to most of the world. This video just validated my thinking about the subject, furthering my own decision to major in environmental or human biology next year. I love being able to help people with the resources we have so abundantly around us.
There has been a lot of major progress in treating people with proteins from venom, advances in treating diseases like alzheimer’s, chronic pain, and cancer.
I am not enthusiastic about the use of animals as test subjects, however, I do think that it is somewhat vital to the well being of mankind and I would rather it be on a mouse than a human. Trial and error can produce a lot of error which likely means fatality and it would just be a disaster if we tested some of the things we test on animals on humans alone.
Q3: I’m an animal lover, I really am. But I think using animals as test subjects for science, it is vital to understanding how things work. Many tests and experiments that scientists conduct are often dangerous and they are never completely sure if the experiment will work or how the results will turn out. With the use of a very poisonous venom being injected with the hopes of coming up with a test antidote to contract the venom…there are multiple areas in which things could go wrong. Using that venom is extremely dangerous, and if the antidote didn’t work then the human test subject would most likely die, upsetting many family members and society as a whole. Because rats are plentiful and similar to our genetic makeup then it is much more practical to use a rat when handling such dangerous experiments. However, I don’t think scientists should get “trigger-happy” and use animal test subjects for every single experiment. The less dangerous the experiment the more we should be using human subjects so as not to appear inhuman when it comes to animal test subjects. There is both good and bad using animal and human test subjects so the only way to create a happy medium is to use both.
I don’t think testing trial drugs on animals is exactly the moral thing to do, but I do understand the benefits and advances it has produce. Though testing on animals puts that animal in harm, it is much better than putting a human life in jeopardy. The UKs pro-test.org website states “Without animal research, medicine as we know it today wouldn’t exist. Animal research has enabled us to find treatments for cancer, antibiotics for infections, vaccines to prevent some of the most deadly and debilitating viruses and surgery for injuries, illnesses and deformities.” Personally I believe that if performing these tests on a select number of animals can help the world as a whole in the terms of healthcare then it is a pretty good trade off. All things worth having come with prices that have to be paid, and a few test on animals is the price to be paid for new research and medicine.
http://www.pro-test.org.uk/2006/03/facts-about-animal-research.html
I was very intrigued after watching this video. For a very long time I have only thought of venomous animals being bad, without any good coming from them. But after viewing this video, I realized that wasn’t the case. Venom, natures killer, can be used to save lives and prevent certain diseases; which is something I believe to be very useful.
I am an animal lover, and usually do not believe in animal testing. But, for this purpose I believe it is crucial to use animals for research. This could lead to be the cause for cancer, diabetes, heart failure, and more. This is ground-breaking research that is being conducted. I found it very interesting how precise they are with their extractions of venom. You have to be, because the venom is deadly.
So far, there are two drugs on the market that are created from snake venom proteins and they are used to prevent heart attacks. These drugs are called eptifibatide (created from rattlesnake venom) and tirofiban, which is created from the African saw-scaled viper. These drugs have been used since the late 90′s to treat people from minor heart attacks and chest pains.
http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes
When you think about it, this is extremely important research that is vital for human survival and health. With the right precautions, research should be continued.
Before watching this video I knew very little about venomous animals and venom in general. I knew that venom was used as a defense mechanism to protect the animal that produced it however I had no idea how many animals could produce it and how lethal it really is. I always thought venom killed smaller animals and it just made humans sick or have an infection. But learning a bit from a tiny spider could kill you in a matter of hours made me cringe with fear. I have a pretty irrational fear of the ocean and learning about box jellyfish only increased my fear. I had no idea a jellyfish was capable of killing a human with one touch. Although this movie was grotesque it was also very interesting to learn that venom can be used to save lives. The active chemicals in venom but that kills people also saved people. Venom has made major improvements to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-venom-cure/video-full-episode/5396/
I feel that the use of animals as test subjects is alright simply because of the effects that it can have on science. It is to risky to preform such tasks on humans for fear of death. I am not saying that a mouses life is less important than a humans, but it kind of is. I was glad to see that the mouse lived and that the anti-venom worked. However, if it hadent, then better a mouse than a human test subject. It is amazing how similiar some animals are to humans. It makes me think what if evolution had taken another path and instead we were the anilmals being experimented on. Regardless it is because of animals like mice that so many humans are alive today and we have them to thank for syrums and anti-venom testing.
I enjoyed watching the venom video. It was very surprising to me to learn that one single snake can have up to as many as 2,000 toxins in their venom. It’s amazing to think that these different animals that are viewed as terrifying could also be used to save lives. The mystery about these venoms that remains poses for very promising job opportunities in the future. According to fox news, the commonly used and known bacterium, Botulinium toxin A from vipers is used as botox. It freezes muscles in your face that would otherwise express wrinkles. They are also looking into using it as a weapon in the future. In science, there is moral obligation with testing on animals to help save human lives. In my opinion it is a risk worth taking. The biggest problem of all involving these potential life saving animals is extinction. If they became extinct, then they cannot be of use to us. I am glad we watched this video and it has definitely made me think twice about killing the harmless spider in my way.
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/08/23/killer-animals-life-saving-cures/
Watching the video on venom was very interesting. I knew that venom was
extracted from animals to make anti-venom for bites or stings from the same species, but I didn’t know that venom was used to help with other sicknesses. According to http://www.popularmechanics.com/_mobile/science/health/breakthroughs/the-positive-power-in-deadly-poison venom from cobras can be used against symptoms of arthritis. I think it is quite interesting that even though the majority of society is afraid of and avoids snakes, especially ones known to be poisonous, their venom can be so very beneficial to us when trying to cure diseases and illnesses. If the cobra didn’t naturally have that venom in it then it’s possible we wouldn’t have any kind of medicine affective for arthritis. It’s also possible that our artificial cures would take a lot of time and money to generate them in high quantities.
I thought the Venom video was very engaging in what they addressed and the footage they showed. The large snakes and spiders were tough to watch, but the information was all very interesting. One point the video made that I had not known before was that anti-venom was made with actual venom. This confusing process led me to research how it works, and I found out that, in Australia specifically, anti-venom is made by collecting the venom of snakes, funnel-web spiders, jellyfish, or other creatures of that sort. It is then injected into a testing animal, until the animal eventually creates a tolerance and produces antibodies that work to treat the venom in their bodies. Blood is then taken from the animal, and the antibodies are separated out. Those antibodies are then injected into a patient that has venom in their blood stream, and the antibodies work to neutralize that venom (http://www.avru.org/compendium/biogs/A000085b.htm). Tying in with the process of the injection in the testing animal, in the video, there was also a venom test on an animal. A scientist injected a mouse with jellyfish venom in attempt to bring it back to life. Luckily the process worked, however it is still controversial to test on animals over a matter that has a high death risk. I believe that it is okay to test on animals that are easily bread and have a high number of availability, such as mice, because it is the only safe way to discover how something might affect humans.
It is fascinating how ironic it is that venom can save people’s lives. When I think of the word venom, I think about poison; something that kills/hurts you. This video opened my eyes and helped me to recognize that things that seem to be only “evil” really can be helpful. This video helps to point out that everything is created for a reason and even though animals can hurt you, they are capable of being extremely helpful. For example, tarantula venom can replace morphine and take away pain for muscular dystrophy. It’s interesting to me that these creatures have such power to destruct and to save lives at the same time. I think it’s sad that animals are used for testing, but at the same time it helps us. I don’t think this is a “win-win” situation, but I think it is important to do whatever we can to help sickness in any way possible.
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/08/23/killer-animals-life-saving-cures/
Wow, what an intriguing dichotomy within the bodies of creepy crawly animals: I had no idea that venom could hurt us so badly, and help us out so much! The world presents us with all sorts of pairs of opposites, and toxin is such an extraordinary example of that. It boggles my mind how a killer substance can stop the very things that kill us? It almost reminds me of the big bully in school, well, you want him on your side right? Who do you want to defend you? The big bully venom. And I think animal testing is not a moral thing to do, the very nature of hurting another being just makes me squeamish. But I think it must be done in many cases. There have been some key advancements in scientific research over the course of the years due to animal testing (penicillin, blood transfusion, tuberculosis, isulin, Asthma, Meningitis, Kidney transplants, Parkinson’s disease etc) http://speakingofresearch.com/facts/medical-benefits/
It is crazy to think that such a small amount of a liquid or such a combination of chemicals can be so deadly. It is also crazy to see that that certain deadly combination can also be a life saver for many people in many different ways. It is weird to think that something so simple, yet so complex can kill you in a matter of hours. The fact that we are beginning to harness the power of venom and apply it to many different diseases and even use it to cure itself, is just mind blowing. I found an article online about the Gaboon Viper Venom, which is being looked into as an anti-coagulant and a coagulant. This means that if properly manufactured, the chemicals in the venom can be used to say treat hemophilia or other circulatory problems. It really is an interesting topic and they are still looking into it because it does still have the problem of heightening the response of the immune system. http://animal.discovery.com/tv/wild-recon/science-of-venom/gaboon-viper-venom-blood-cure.html. Venom is a really interesting subject and I am sure that in the near future, we will be able to fully harness the potential that venom holds and it will be a cure for many of the illnesses and diseases we have around today.
At the beginning of this movie, I was very skeptical about how useful venom really is in treating certain health conditions because the video mentioned such a broad range of applications for the venom that I couldn’t believe it had all of these healing properties. It was not a new concept to me that anti-venom is made from some manipulated from of the original poisonous venom, but I never realized how many animals had the capacity to contribute their venom to medical research. I guess I never really stopped to think that spiders or snails would be poisonous because they’re so small, but now I know that dangerous things can come in small packages. Before this video I knew that toxins were proteins that harmed your body, but I never really understood how. I thought it was interesting that toxins “tell” or give the cell directions to do all of the wrong things. Perhaps contrary to what I’ve read in other people’s comments, this movie instilled a fear of spiders in me that I did not have before, and every day since watching this I have come in contact with a spider. Also mentioned in this video was the clinical use of scorpion venom to treat brain cancer. This fact intrigued me and I read in Popular Mechanics, that the ingredient, chlorotoxin, is responsible for repairing or replacing cancer-causing gene mutations at tumor sites. http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/breakthroughs/the-positive-power-in-deadly-poison#slide-1
Prior to watching “Venom: Nature’s Killer”, I was unaware of the things venom was capable of doing. Like many people, I saw venom as nothing but harmful when in actuality it can actually be very helpful. My thoughts about the scientists in the video were that they were very dedicated. They placed themselves in dangerous situations in order to obtain venom which revealed to me how dedicated they really are. Without scientists such as the ones in the video, many of us would still be searching for a cure. I will say the thing which bothered me most was the scene that Dr. Angel Yanagihara delivered a lethal dose of the Chironex venom, the Australian box jelly, to a mouse. I do not support this kind of behavior at all. Although it is beneficial to society because it helps us distinguish which things are useful for cures and which are not, it still hurts animals. I feel as though we should strive harder to find a way around using animals as test subjects.
The thing I found to be most interesting about the film was how quickly venom can affect you. In the film they showed a demonstration of how the venom affects the body. It appeared to me that it affects your respiratory system the most and slows down your breathing. The creature whose venom stood out to me the most was the brown recluse spider. The reason it stood out to me the most was because unlike the other venomous creatured in the film, this creature caused the body to attack itself. I found that to be very interesting. Watching this film has definitely made me much more afraid of spiders, snakes, etc. I feel as though I will be much more cautious.
Recently, researchers have begun exploring potential cancer-fighting venom. This venom comes from certain snakes. Also, researchers have been working on treating patients who have experienced stroke. Overall, it seems that day by day scientists are finding more use to venom.
http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes
I found this video really interesting in that something as dangerous as venom can be used in a positive and helpful way. After watching this movie I have more of an open mind on the use of venom to develop a cure to some serious diseases. I also have more respect for these animals and that they can actually be beneficial to us rather than just harmful. It amazed me how brave the scientists were to put themselves in danger all for the good of science. The main thing I learned from watching this movie is that we can’t allow these animals to become extinct because they can save our lives. If they become extinct then we will no longer be able to use the resources we receive from them to better benefit us. Although I don’t like the idea of animal testing, I know that it has been worthwhile and helped scientists to better understand certain diseases and lead them to find a cure. I wanted to research what animal testing has done for us.
http://www.cvma.net/doc.asp?ID=2403
Animal testing has not only prevented polio but also achieved treatments for diabetes, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, and children’s leukemia. This veterinary medical association refers to these animals as heroes because their contribution has saved countless lives.
Before watching this video i didn’t think there could be any positive side to the venom that comes out of snakes, spiders and other animals. In my eyes all venom did was severely hurt people or even cause death. After watching this video I learned that venom is a very important aspect in moving forward in the medicinal world. According to National Geographic “snake venoms may prevent the growth of cancerous tumors, potentially transforming one of nature’s deadliest toxins into a curative agents”. I also learned that a drug used to treat high blood pressure and cardiovascular disorders, were developed from the venom of a brazilian snake. Now the importance of the snakes has risen in my eyes. These snakes could possibly be our only cure for cancers. This raises the problem about how we need to make a bigger effort in saving the endangered snakes because with out them we could lose our only chance in finding a cure.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0601_040601_tvsnakes1.html
I was really surprised to find out that venom from snakes, spiders, and other animals can help cure diseases like brain cancer and other forms of cancer. I always thought animals that were poisonous could never benefit society, let alone cure diseases. These animals could kill us within seconds, but their venom could be so useful to us. It is weird to think that is someone gets bit by a poisonous animal that there is venom in the anti-venom used to cure the person. The most shocking image to me was of the lady with all of the bruises and internal bleeding on her body because that was caused by just one little bit from a poisonous animal. On this website I read more about the harpoon snailshttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4846504.stm, this website was interesting to me because it gave me more information about the snails and also told me who the snails have helped medically. These snails have helped produce a painkiller, “Just over a year ago, the US Federal Drug Agency approved the first of a new type of painkiller – Prialt® – which can work in cases where ordinary drugs fail. The drug has also been approved for use in Europe.” This amazes me that things this deadly can be so helpful.
Personally I don’t like spiders and they creep me out just by the sight of them, but this video changed that. Now I’m nore interested in spiders, but still not willing to touch them or anything. I feel like a lot of influencial people should be told about this and a orginization should raise money for this stuff! The venom of certain species, some that are endangured, could save a lot of poeple everyday! The life span of humans would be longer and people will be happier with their loved ones still around. Though I find it wrong using helpless creatures to find out if the venom could stop a certain diease from spreadining I find it necessary for human survuval, I know that sounds kind of selfish but it’s true. There are more mice than there are people in the world and mice always produce multiple babies at one time it’s not like we are going to kill their species off! Eventhough it was hard to watch the mouse struggle I believe animal testing is needed to save numerous human lives.
According to http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/pure-genius/studying-snake-venom-for-medical-cures/2518 the King Cobra could be our insight to help people with neurological conditions such as Parkisons and Alzheimer”s disease and even addictions. This haditoxin could even slow cancer growth! It’s amazing how something people think is so lethal can actual be used to their or someone they knows benefit! Being able to stop addictions to certain substances would solve a lot of peoples problems! There are a ton of people put there spending their money on their addiction to certain drugs and throwing their life out the window and that could stop with the haditoxin from the King Cobra snake. It’s so unthinkable that a cure for some of our most abundant diseases and problems can be solved by a viscious venemous snake!
Before I saw this movie I had always thought venomous animals to strictly be disgusting creatures that deserved nothing less than to be banished from the earth. But this has totally opened my eyes to venom and their somewhat disgusting hosts. It said in the video that for all the deaths caused by venom each year there are somewhere like 100 death prevented because of some sort of treatment/medicine that was rooted from venom. The lives weren’t saved in forms of anti venom either, they were used for treatment of lethal diseases and even cancers. An example of this is the medical use of tarantula venom. Most see tarantulas as these massive hairy spiders and would run at the sight of one, but in fact tarantula venom can be used as a replacement for morphine (which is highly addictive) to help ease muscular pain. Venom defiantly proves itself worthy in this video. So in the end, despite my huge hate and disgust for snakes, spiders, and other venomous animals I would have to say I am pretty glad they are around.
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/08/23/killer-animals-life-saving-cures/
I think the scientists in the video were courageous and bold. I can’t imagine putting my life on the line every time I go to work. After seeing victims of snake bites, I’m shocked that people would still go out there and hunt for such hazardous animals. I would personally be too frightened to do that.
It’s incredible that the dangerous venom from animals could also be used to cure illnesses. So far, there has been progress using venom. For example, anti-venom can be used to help people who have been bit. I think it’s incredible that they are using medicine made by venom to cure people who have been infected by venom.
The process of making anti-venom is understandable. They inject a minuscule amount of venom in little creatures and take out the antibodies the animal creates. Animals make antibodies as a way to protect themselves from the toxin. ( http://viper.arizona.edu/faq#q10) I think animal testing regarding this subject is appropriate. I think sacrificing a mouse, which comes in many, for a cure is acceptable because the medicine could be healing many more animals.
I really enjoyed this movie. Whoever first had the idea that venom could be turned into antivenom as a cure was a very intelligent person. It’s remarkable to me that it’s possible to use the venom against itself in the body. For me, that is clear proof of how far we have come in science. My favorite part was learning about the cone snail. What an incredible creature! I was astounded that its body had evolved to be able to form a spear within it. At this site, I learned more about how the venom in the cone paralyzes its victims: http://www.theconesnail.com/explore-cone-snails/venom. Rather than only using on type of toxin, its system uses a mixture of toxins when it injects its prey with venom. The different toxins work to attack different parts of the preys body. Some focus on the nervous system and others can make the prey experience exitotoxic shock as well as placcid paralysis. It merely depends on which toxin is in the harpoon at that time. That is a huge advantage for the cone snail because it makes it that much more powerfukl of a predator. OVerall, I thought this movie was informational as well as exciting to learn about. I hope there are more to come.
To me, the most interesting part of the video was the segment on the box jellyfish. Both of my siblings have experienced jellyfish stings but thankfully it wasn’t very serious. It was incredible how something so delicate as a box jellyfish could harm humans as severely as they do. To me, jellyfish are incredible animals since they are so delicate and seem like they could be so easily harmed, yet they continue to survive. According to http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/box-jellyfish/ , box jellyfish are special in that they are able to move rather than drift, and that they have eyes.
It is amazing that something that can be so deadly to humans and other organisms can also be extremely beneficial in the treatment of diseases that are equally deadly. Hopefully, as science advances, we will be able to find a cure for venom side effects as well as the diseases they may be able to assist in curing.
I thought that this was a really insightful and interesting video. I knew that scientist were working with venom as a source of life saving drugs; but I never really realized just how many different types of drugs and potential drugs there are in this world. I think that these scientists are truly amazing people. The fact that they will put their own lives in danger to gather poisons for the greater good of mankind is absolutely amazing. Toward the end of the video one of the scientist talked about how there are over 20 million different venoms in the world and that we have only studied a couple hundred and fewer venoms have been studied close enough to actually produce drugs. So the fact that there is such a large potential is amazing. But it is also sad because we are destroying that potential by wiping out different animal species. Because scientist have been able to study the proteins in rattle snake venom they have been able to produce drugs that can help to save people who are having heart attacks. I don’t really have a problem with testing on animals, especially when the animals end up surviving. I read an article that talked about why mice are used for experiments and it makes a lot of sense. They are small, easy to control, reproduce quickly, and have a relatively short life span (http://www.lifeslittlemysteries.com/908-why-do-medical-researchers-use-mice.html). I have also read that mice have DNA that is similar to that of humans, so using mice doesn’t really bother me. It is a lot better than using humans. So if we didn’t test on animals we probably wouldn’t have half of our present day drugs.
I think that testing on animals is alright to benefit ourselves, because without testing throughout history, there would not have been many breakthroughs in scientific discovery. Also animal testing prevents any unnecessary and dangerous human testing, because when we test on similar animals to humans, we can figure out if these drugs/experiments would be fatal to humans. (http://www.cghm.org/wow/2006/why-we-should-test-on-animals)
Also humans are not being intentionally cruel to animals while doing this, they do not continuously subject these animals to tests because they want to hurt them. They test these things on animals because they want to make the quality of life for everything better in the end.
Venomous creatures have never been seen as a friend to humanity, and for good reason. It is hard to sympathize or look for beneficial qualities in animals that have an overwhelming capability to kill you. Thus, “Venom” is a truly enlightening look at the potentials to be found in these toxins. The code that these serums contain can be the blueprint for the next great medical breakthrough. There is already evidence that contortrostatin, a toxin found in copperhead snake venom, may be a cure for brain cancer (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-venom-cure/video-copperhead-venom-and-cancer-research/4419/). The idea that something so threatening could become a life-saver to a nearly exclusively mortal malady is astounding. I am restless to see what lessons are yet to be found in venom.
I really enjoyed watching this video in class; it actually kept me interested the entire time. The part that surprised me the most was when they started talking about the box-jelly. I was expecting them to talk mostly about snakes and spiders, but the thought of a jellyfish having a medical purpose had never really crossed my mind. I find it interesting that they use the actual venom to produce anti-venom. I’m not sure why this seems so weird to me, but it just seems like such a weird idea to make the opposite of something from that original thing. Another part of the video that I really liked was the fact that they did not hurt any of the creatures they took venom from. I absolutely hate spiders, but even killing a small one in my basement makes me feel a little bad, so I really enjoyed the fact that they did not even hurt any of them. Going along with this, I also enjoyed the underwater farm that they kept for their use. I find the idea of using venom to eventually treat and cure some diseases to be such a fantastic idea, and I sincerely hope that they continue to do research and improve this science of venom.
http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes
Living in Indiana, I have been exposed to relatively few venomous creatures. The film opened my eyes to just how many venomous creatures the world holds. I was shocked to find that even certain snails, a creature I have always considered to be harmless, can be deadly. I was even more amazed to realize that the same venoms that can cause humans excruciating pain and are deadly can also be the key to cures. It seems completely ironic. The deadly venom of harpoon snails can be used to make painkiller. The venom of a cone shell, which is known to be nerve debilitating, can be used as a painkiller and the venom in copperheads can be used against breast cancer cells and may work to prevent the spreading of cancer. (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-venom-cure/introduction/2063/) Finding these cures has already proven to be valuable to humans, but it is not humans that truly pay the price for this progress. Tests must be done in order to achieve these cures and animals such as the mouse in the film fall victim to this experimentation. I personally am not thrilled by the idea of animal experimentation, but I know that if I were watching a loved one suffer, I would want anything possible to be done in order to find the cure.
“Venom: Nature’s Killer” showed sides of venom that I would never have expected. I never expected there to be medical research involving the use of venom in treatments. After seeing the devastating effects on the victims of venomous attacks, such as the girl whose left side was totally swollen and purple, you wouldn’t think of the toxin as a potential groundbreaking tool in medicine. Their was one statement that really stood above all else in the film. At one point a medical researcher was being interviewed and he stated that they were actually working towards using venom as a potential cure for cancer. Cancer, a health issue with no current cure, could possibly be solved by one of the most deadliest substances on the Earth. There are already two drugs on the market with venom as an active ingredient that are used to prevent heart attacks. (http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes) I find this particularly interesting because most venoms can cause the heart to beat irregularly when injected into the body. Alzheimer’s, heart disease and strokes. The capability of venom in the medical industry is a phenomenal thing.
I found this video very interesting. It was scary to see what a negative effect venom can have on our bodies. The girl in the video that had bruises covering her entire body was very unsettling. It’s strange that something that small can have such an impact on our bodies. Even though I think it is really sad, I feel that the testing on animals is necessary. It was disturbing what the scientist did to that mouse but by doing that the lives of humans will be safer and improved. We can’t do this kind of testing on each other and so animals get that bad end of the deal. If we can, we need to think of a more humane way to do this testing but I think its necessary to do because it can save so many lives. In saying this, most animals that are tested on experience no pain or are relieved of all pain by anesthesia according to this website, http://www.animaltestingfacts.zoomshare.com/.
I found this video intriguing. In the beginning, I was amazed at how they catch the snakes with bare hands and sticks. I can’t even imagine risking my life for this, let alone without lots of protective gear. The video showed me that this is a small price to pay for all of the medicines venom helps create, though. While researching, I couldn’t believe how many different medicines are being researched by using compounds within the venom and even the venom itself for blood problems. Eventually, I decided to use the site http://www.besthealthsecret.com/snake-whose-venom-is-used-in-medicine/ because it gives examples of snakes and medicines found from their poisons. It mentions a stroke medicine from a pit viper, and compounds in Black Mamba venom being used for relaxing muscles and stopping heart contractions. Finally, it briefly mentions that cobra venom has been used to treat pain (Cobroxin and Nyloxin), cancer, and certain immune disorders. I can’t imagine how people catch these deadly snakes, but now I know how valuable their venom can be, and it’s astounding!
I thought this video was very insightful and interesting. I think the scientists are very brave men and women who risk their lives to find cures to very serious diseases and medical problems people face and I acknowledge their bravery for doing so. However, it does not change the fact that I am terribly afraid of jellyfish, snakes, and spiders. Before watching the video, I was not aware that venom was used to find treatments for very serious illnesses that people face. It amazes me that the creatures that can kill us can also save our lives. Seeing the young girl that had been bitten by the snake made me realize that it could happen to anyone; it’s a good thing scientists are trying to find cures to diseases and medicine that can save your life from the same creature that once tried to kill you. Unfortunately, the anti-venom is very expensive and some people may not be able to afford it. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/8361918/new-antivenom-could-save-png-lives Another issue this video brought up was testing on animals. I have never really been for or against animal testing; I just grew up being told that it was a bad and terrible thing for scientists to be doing. Being older, I understand the pros and cons to animal testing. I believe that animal testing is okay only when they are close to having the product finished and know that the animals will be safe. However, I am not okay with the idea that many animals die in labs due to testing.
I found the venom video to be very interesting. I have always found jellyfish fascinating so I really enjoyed that part. The only part of the video that I found unnerving was when the lethal injection of Australian Box Jelly venom was administered to a mouse in a lab. People watching the clip don’t understand the type of pain a jellyfish sting brings. The effects of the Australian Box Jelly venom can include confusion, agitation, unconsciousness, difficulty with breathing, cardiorespiratory arrest or cardiac arrhythmias, difficulty with speech or swallowing, severe pain, extensive skin lesions, and eventually death. http://www.avru.org/compendium/biogs/A000042b.htm Just the thought of the suffering that the little mouse had to endure before the anti-venom kicked in sickens me. I understand though that it is necessary for scientific progression and is more “humane” to test on animal subjects rather than human subjects. I just wish there were a way that the animals did not have to suffer in order to get the desired scientific results.
I thought the movie was very interesting and thought provoking. I never knew that some of the world’s most feared and dangerous creatures could provide a cure for some of the deadliest diseases. When I think of the word “venom” I think of poison, snakes, and even death. However, venom can be beneficial, too. Recent studies showed that snake venom has shown promise in treating breast cancer, stokes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, leukemia, and heart disease. (http://webspinners.com/coloherp/cb-news/Vol-28/cbn-0103/Venom.html)
The fact that those studies were taking place in 2001, according to the article, we can probably assume that major breakthroughs are being made to cure diseases with venom. The video made me gain a whole new appreciation for “venom catchers.” It also taught me many new things and sparked an interest in the cone snail. Good movie.
I found this video really interesting when it showed how the snakes and the spiders venom is being used for cures for what the venom is intended to do. Making this advancement in science is really remarkable because this is making a step in the world of medicine that can save someones life. http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes
I think that it is incredible how you can treat a snakes venom with venom. My initial reaction when I think about venom curing venom, it makes me think that you can stop a fire with fire; but, after watching this documentary, it made me realize that to stop what is doing the harm, you really have to understand what you are trying to stop before you can stop it.
Besides the fact that 100% of the animals featured in this film scare me, I actually enjoyed the video and found it to be very interesting. The main thing that confused me from the video is how exactly the box jellyfish’s venom works so I decided to do some more research regarding that topic. Before watching this video I knew that jellyfish stung people but for some reason it had never crossed my mind how they did it. Apparently each of the jellyfishes’ tentacles has thousands of stinging nematocysts, which are like little stinging darts. According to http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/marine-life/jellyfish-venom1.htm the nematocysts only fire whenever the jellyfishes tentacle makes contact with the chemicals on the surface of its prey. Another interesting fact I found was that Australians have been known to wear women’s pantyhose when swimming so that the jellyfish will not be able to make contact with the chemicals on their legs. If I ever go to Australia I will definitely need to remember that because an encounter with a box jellyfish is not the #1 thing to do on my to do list. I also learned that pouring vinegar on a box jellyfish sting has the ability to make the stinging cells harmless which then will prevent them from firing even more toxins into the victim’s body. Of course I know if I were ever to get stung by a box jellyfish I would definitely go into shock so hopefully I would have a good group of people around me to help. Now onto the subject about the research being done about jellyfish venom. I think that the men and women who do the research are amazing individuals because they are taking something negative and are turning it into something positive. Unfortunately I looked online and I found that the anti-venom progress has not progressed as far as I thought it has. According to http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/06/15/jellyfish-antivenom.html box jellyfish venom works so fast that normally jellyfish anti-venom has little to no affect because normally the jellyfish venom will kill the victim before the anti-venom can be administered to them. I believe that the scientists will be able to come up with something that will be able to cure victims of box jellyfish stings, I just think that it will take awhile because doing tests and research can be tricky because of the fact that the venom of box jellyfish works so fast and is so deadly.
Most of the animals featured in this movie, I am completely terrified of. Even though I am scared of them, I still found it very interesting. One thing that I found extremely interesting is that venom can kill you and save you. In the movie it was said that venom could help cure diseases. With further research, an article said that snake venom could be a medicine for cancers and diabetes. The venom does this by causing “cells that line blood vessels to separate and die, including the kinds that feed cancerous tumours.”http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/09/19/snake-venom-could-unlock-cancer-diabetes-cures-study/ The part about the jellyfish creeped me out a little. I have been stung by a jellyfish before, so I know the pain. I’m just glad it wasn’t the Australian Box Jelly.
Most of the animals featured in this movie, I am completely terrified of. Even though I am scared of them, I still found it very interesting. One thing that I found extremely interesting is that venom can kill you and save you. In the movie it was said that venom could help cure diseases. With further research, an article said that snake venom could be a medicine for cancers and diabetes. The venom does this by causing “cells that line blood vessels to separate and die, including the kinds that feed cancerous tumours.”http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/09/19/snake-venom-could-unlock-cancer-diabetes-cures-study/ The part about the jellyfish creeped me out a little. I have been stung by a jellyfish before, so I know the pain. I’m just glad it wasn’t the Australian Box Jelly.
When we first started the video, I thought that the scientist that were crazy for chasing after these exotic animals. Not only are some of these animals scary, most have the power to kill you with a sting or bite. After doing a little bit of research, i realized that the jobs these scientist do are very helpful to the world. Scientist have continued to find uses for the venom found in these different animals. I found information saying that snake venom has been used in multiple ways medically, such as stopping excessive bleeding, stroke, and breast cancer. After finding out that these poisonous venoms can also be helpful to the world, it makes you thankful for these scientists that are willing to go out and hunt for these animals.
I found this video very interesting and informative. The fact that the thing that has the power to kill you, within hours of infection, can also save your life is mind-blowing to me. There have been multiple discoveries of different animal venoms that can actually be used as some sort of medicine. There have been discoveries such as scorpion venom in certain cancer treatments, cobra venom for arthritis and also tarantula venom for muscular dystrophy. Seeing how nature works against itself and can still be used as a medicinal aid is amazing. http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/breakthroughs/the-positive-power-in-deadly-poison#slide-3
I really enjoyed this video although I am not a big fan of spiders or snakes, I thought it was really interesting. I found the stories of the hospital patients to be very interesting, especially the girl who was bit by the snake. I thought it was amazing how before the anti-venom she was basically dead and looked horrible, then when they gave her the anti venom she was virtually back to normal almost immediately. I was so surprised how quickly anti-venom can work once it is in your body. I also think it is amazing that the same thing that almost killed that little girl can also be used to save someone else’s life. According to http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Jellyfish-venom-may-become-medicine/2006/11/06/1162661606416.html jellyfish venom similar to the venom of the cone snail featured in the video is being tested to determine whether it can now be used to treat heart complications.
I thought the video was very interesting and exciting because it shows the scientists and their dedication to studying venoms and their effects. What was most intriguing however was the fact that many of these venoms have proven useful in treating deadly diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiac conditions. A similar film entitled The Venom Cure by NATURE, two scientists make it their mission to research the uses for sea snake venom. With the research they have done so far they have identified a protein that acts as a powerful anticoagulant and could be used to treat potentially fatal coronary conditions. I think the magic of all of this is the way that we can use one of nature’s most deadly weapons and turn it into our most potent cures and treatments for disease and ailments.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-venom-cure/sea-snake-venom/2065/
I found this video to be very interesting and informative. Before watching I did not know that an anti-venom is made from the venom itself, much like a vaccine. The development of the anti-venom could save people from the deadly effects of the venom it injects into the body through its tentacles, which can be up to 10 feet long. The affects of the venom include unconsciousness, excruciating pain, cardiorespiratory arrest or cardiac arrhythmias, difficulty with speech or swallowing, extensive skin lesions, and eventually death. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_jellyfish In the video, one moral question raised during the scene where they inject a mouse with the venom from a Box Jellyfish, one of the most venomous creatures in the Earth. Personally, I do not care about the practice of animal testing on animals as insignificant as mice. Mice have a very similar genetic code to humans so the anti-venom will most likely have a similar effect on the human. If a few mice die in order to save the lives of the 100 or more people that fall victim to these jellyfish every year I am completely fine with that. http://www.livescience.com/6353-deadly-box-jellyfish.html
This video really interested me because humans see venom as only something dangerous. As we all saw, the venom was used to create the cure to there deadly attacks. It really intrigued me that this could be possible. As i researched, I realized that this is not the end of the possibilities of what this anti venom could be used for. This website,http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/04/09/spider-venom-could-lead-to-breast-cancer-cure-say-scientists/ showed me that using antivenom for only curing poisonous bites is not the only possible use. Something else that humans have been trying to cure is breast cancer, and according to that article, venom may have humans on the track to curing breast cancer. I think that this should really be looked into more because humans could be on the right track, never know.
I was very interested with this video and how something made to cause death could be altered to not only be non-lethal but save lives as well. This movie opened my eyes to see snakes and spiders as animals that could one day save my life, a view that I did not hold before watching the video. I hated and feared all of the animals discussed in the video until it taught me that they are just the same as all other animals only with an amazing defense system. I believe that the research on the benefits of venom should continue but with caution in the area of animal testing. I am against animal testing if the scientists have not researched the product at the best of their abilities. I think that the testing of venom on animals should be allowed to continue but with strict rules and the best intentions of the animal in mind. The uses of venom are too precious to humanity to be forgotten, like the painkiller made from the sea snail that is 100 times more powerful than other painkillers. With all of the hidden benefits that venom holds the world could find cures to some of the most drastic diseases that affect our world today.
http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/news/2010/06/painkiller-from-sea-snail-venom/
While watching the video I was astonished to hear that some poisons venoms are being used as medicines to save lives. When I think of venoms, I don’t think of a cure for breast cancer. I think of a slow and painful death. After hearing of some of the possible cures, I took it upon myself to look at even more venoms we are using as medicines. I found out that the venom of the Deathstalker scorpion may ironically help bring people out of deaths grab and help cure brain cancer. I also found that the venom of the Indian cobra can help cure arthritis. Antony Gomes conducted an experiment were male rats were induced with arthritis and were then injected with nonlethal doses of Indian monocellate cobra venom. The rats showed improvement in their arthritic symptoms. I have to say, I am extremely shocked at all the different experiments being conducted in order to not only find a cure for these venoms, but to find a better use for them in our world. http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/breakthroughs/the-positive-power-in-deadly-poison#slide-5
This video caught my eye very quickly. I was very interested to learn about all of the venomous animals in our world. It is crazy to think about how something that can kill you can also help save your life too. I wonder how far along we really are in creating cures with the venom. This discovery could help save lives. It is sad that we have to use animals (mice) as test subjects. However, what else can we do? If a few mice have to die in order to save a bunch of lives then so be it.
http://www.ox.ac.uk/animal_research/research_using_animals_an_overview/index.html
As someone who is terrified by spiders, snakes, and many other creatures in the animal kingdom, I truly admire people that make it their life’s work to find these animals. For example, when Dr. Angel Yanagihara finds the box jellyfish and uses the venom in it to try to make an anti venom to save other people, I find that to be very brave. What makes this even more remarkable is that she nearly died from being stung by the same type of jellyfish, but miraculously lived. Usually, when something that terrifying happens to someone they are too scared to put themselves in that situation again, but she does all the time. The same goes with the doctors in Vietnam who work tirelessly to create anti venom for the thousands of people who cannot afford right now, but are the most affected by it. An article on phys.org addresses how thousands are affected by snake bites, but cannot receive proper care. “In developing countries, traditional healers administer inappropriate, time-wasting, and sometimes harmful treatment—this should be discouraged.” As was seen in the video, most of the people have to wait out and hope that the venom leaves the system after some time. The article also discusses how only recently have snake bites come to the attention of the WHO and are being addressed seriously and anti venoms are being made that will one day be available to people in lesser developed countries, like those in Southeast Asia where snake bites are a real hazard. I had never really thought about snake bites being so harmful before and I never considered how many thousands of people are affected by it. However, the people that work to make anti venoms to protect others are really doing something that benefits the entire world.
Read more at: http://phys.org/news181468976.html#jCp
This video intrigued me, because it brought about new information that I’ve never given any thought to. It’s fascinating that venom could help us figure out new ways to heal or treat even though its main purpose is to harm. Venomous animals have always seemed like nuisances to me, but now I truly see just how valuable these animals are. But even so, it will not change my fear of them. Just because scientists have better ways of saving venom bite victims, does not mean poisonous animals will be any less of a threat. It is because of the unlikely chance that someone has to even get bitten by one that makes venomous animals less threatening. According to Venomous Snake FAQS, you are nine times more likely to die from being struck by lightning than to die of venomous snakebites. But even so, getting bitten by one will forever be a horrible thing to experience. I would never want to go through that.
http://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/venomous_snake_faqs.shtml
The thing that surprised me most about the video was the revelation that venom is a two-sided coin. Venom can attack the blood stream, the nervous system, or both, and causes a whole host of problems from muscle spams to heart failure. However, the genetic make-up of the venom cells can be “tweaked” or altered in a way that turns the venom into a remedy. When altered, the venom can be used as an anti-venom to combat its originally lethal form; or it can even be used in controlled doses to treat diseases like epilepsy or medical emergencies such as heart attack.
National Geographic published an article recently about the work of Tony Woods, a biologist at the University of South Australia. Woods is attempting to use snake venom as a cure for cancer. Woods has found a compound in snake venom that disrupts endothelial cells, which line the inner surface of blood vessels. Woods believes that the venom could be used to target cancerous red-blood cells, while not harming normal cells, and therefore stop tumors.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0601_040601_tvsnakes1_2.html
Like many of the people responding to this video, I am a person who is very afraid snakes and spiders, so in a kind of creepy way, I found the video very interesting because it dealt with some of my greatest fears. I would say that the scariest venomous creature in the video was the box jellyfish. I have always been afraid of ocean animals. (It all started with my sister introducing me to Jaws at too young an age.) A few years ago, I remember watching a show on the Discovery Channel about box jellyfish, and I was blown away by how such a small creature can hold such lethal venom. (I attached a link to a Discovery Channel video about box jellyfish, but I don’t think it’s the exact one I am talking about.) This show only increased my fear of jellyfish. One thing that surprised me about a jellyfish’s sting was how deep the stingers penetrated the skin before releasing their venom. Although watching this venom video only fears my phobia of swimming in the ocean, I will still never pass up the chance to go to the beach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml7bO021DMk
I thought the video was very interesting… Except for the part with all the spiders and scorpions. I have what we call “arachnophobia”. I absolutely HATE spiders; and anything else that has more than six legs. Anyways, that lady that was getting all the venom out of the spiders is very brave, and I commend her for doing so. I have only recently begun to be able to remove spiders from my house by myself in the past couple of years since my dad is always away for work (he’s a truck driver, and it is one of the COOLEST jobs in the world in my opinion). When I was about nine years old, my mom and my brother and I were visiting my Aunt Sara in Atlanta, Georgia. This was my first up-close with a scorpion. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in my cousin Casey’s room, and I was walking toward the door when I saw it. This scorpion was small, but just big enough to look like a giant one (like the one in the movie: “Honey I Shrunk The Kids”). I’m getting itchy just thinking about it… Anyways, this scorpion I suppose should not have scared me, because according to Wizzie Brown, adult scorpions can be up to seven and one half inches long and have anywhere from three to six pairs of eyes (http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/publications/epubs/e_362.cfm ). GROSS!!! I’m done talking and thinking about them, though; I’m afraid I will give myself nightmares.
I had so many thoughts about this video! The topic of venom being used to not only harm but save people is kind of a mind blowing concept and really intruiging to learn about. I”ve heard stories about people getting snake bites and going into shock and many people die, but I knew that some people were able to be saved, I just didn’t know how this happened. After watching this video I know understand that there’s an anitvenom to cure snake bites and that only antivenom can cure them but it’s crazy to think that the antivenom is made out of the same substance that’s killing them in the first place! It’s already impressive enought that scientists can now neutralize a venom and make it nonpoisonous anymore but they can mutate the venom even more and turn it into a cure! I’ve always been so scared and disgusted by snakes and spiders especially, but after watching this video and becoming knowledgeable on these poisonous spiders and snakes, I see that they’re not so bad and actually quite important when it comes to finding cures and saving our lives! Here’s an article I found online that really informed me on snake venom and its benefits towards finding cures. http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes
Regarding the topic of animal testing with venom, I’m not quite sure how I feel about this. I, personally, am against animal testing when it’s not completely necessary or done in a way that has the animal’s best interest in mind. I do think testing the venom and antivenoms and other possible cures on animals could benefit us a great deal and help us understand how everything works and could possible work and help us humans, but I only think this is okay and beneficial if the scientists have done suffiecient research on the topic and conducted other tests and don’t test on the animals excessively. Hopefully one day we can discover and create many different cures for diseases from the venom of the many creatures on earth!
Wow, watching the venom movie really showed me how deadly nature can be. It’s crazy that there are naturally made substances that are deadlier than anything else known to man. Seeing the victims of snake bites and other venomous attacks made me realize how happy I am to live in Indiana. Sure, people say it’s boring and everything, but at least we don’t have kids being bitten by spiders and dying two days later. Besides, I hate spiders anyway, let alone deadly ones. another thing that scares me is how tiny some of these deadly bugs are. I’ve been in the ocean several times and seen my fair share of jellyfish. If I had seen this venom video, I would have gotten out of the water as fast as I could’ve instead of picking it up and throwing it at my brother like I did. Luckily I won’t make that mistake again. Venomous animals are nothing to fool around with. In fact, there is a pretty good list of snake bite fatalities online. I thin iI’m gonna try to stay off that list by stay in good old Indiana.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_snake_bites_in_the_United_States#2010s
heres my link
In all honesty I found this video pretty disturbing, but at the same time it was also quite fascinating. I would have never thought that venom could be used to help cure people or to find new ways to cure people. I especially thought it was admirable that the scientist who was stung by a Box jellyfish used that experience to find a cure and help save future lives. Although I would never dare enter this field because I’m terrified of these animals, I think it’s so cool that animals are even capable of producing something so lethal, and that scientists are able find ways to benefit from it. I found an article on pbs.org about how scientists are discovering that deathly venoms can now be used to cure many problems. One of the examples they used was the venom from a copperhead snake. It’s venom is used to help cure breast cancer and to help prevent the cancer from spreading. It’s cool to think that something that is as deathly as venom could be used to cure some of our most deathly and fatal diseases.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-venom-cure/introduction/2063/
After watching this video, I was extremely amazed by the courage individuals have when capturing venomous creatures. One small mistake could result in the end of their life in a matter of minutes. It amazes me that a creature so small can be so lethal. The jellyfish scene in the venom movie reminded me of a scene from the movie Seven Pounds. In this movie, Will Smith explains that the box jelly fish is the most lethal creature that lives on Earth. Before watching the venom movie, I never knew that actual venom could be used in controlled amounts to cure certain illnesses. I am so thankful for those scientists who go out into the ocean or the wilderness to capture these creatures to obtain their venom. Without them doctors would struggle to cure patients at a fast pace. I decided to research more information about box jellyfish stings. According to (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/box-jellyfish/) the venom in a box jellyfish attacks the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. Most individuals who are stung by the box jellyfish go into immediate shock and drown. If an individual is lucky enough to survive a sting, there is a long road to recovery. Most people have vivd scars from where the tentacles made contact. Again, it still amazes me how a creature that weighs so little can be so deadly.
I thought this video was really intriguing. I had no idea that we could use venom to help save lives. My favorite animal that they talked about was the cone snail. It looked just like any other shell you would pick up on the beach so that fact that it was extremly deadly was really interesting. I never knew animals could produce their own weapons, let alone multiple harpoons! I was curious to see how scientists could use the venom to help people because I felt like the video didn’t really explain that very well and I found this article. It talks about how the cone snail’s use nerotoxins to paralyze their prey so by harnessing those toxins we can block pores on pain sensing neurons and help patients with neuropathic pains.
As for the parts of the movie where they did animal testing, I didn’t really agree with that. I understand the benifits of using animals but I feel that there are better ways to go about finding answers then harming innocent lives. If the testing doesn’t hurt the animal or it can help the animal in some way than I’m okay with that. However when the scientists are aware that the experiment may end up killing the creature, that’s where I disagree.
To be honest I did really enjoy watching this video and thought that it was really interesting. The way venom works is something that I have always questioned and it was great to see my questions being answered while I watched the video. One of the scariest yet interesting parts of the movie was seeing the pictures of the girl who had been bitten by a viper snake. I had no idea that venom could cause bruising or that a bruise could get that large. I also have a very hard time rapping my head around the fact that something as small and harmless looking as a box jelly fish has the ability to kill a person in a matter of minutes. Although I did not totally agree with the fact that they used rats in the video I thought that it was very intriguing to see what venom would actually do to a live animal, I was also happy to see that the animal recovered and did not die. It is crazy to think that something as strong and deadly as venom can help cure things such as diabetes. Once again I truly enjoyed watching this video and look forward to watching more videos like this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws5hImeonEA
The film Venom: Nature’s Killer was an eye-opener for me personally in the sense that these venomous creatures in our world have substantial potential to be truly beneficial for the human race. As dangerous and risky as it is to catch these animals and then extract their venom, this video made it all seem worth the risk at least that’s how i felt. It’s pretty mind boggling that something as fatal as venom which has the power to kill, paralyze, and destroy blood cells in a short period of time can possibly cure serious illnesses that have plagued many people. http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Hidden-Benefits-of-Venom-Exposed&id=4859397 Harnessing this venom should continue to be a priority because I feel like the positive possibilities outweigh the dangers that these snakes, spiders, and other venomous animals pose. Although at first I was frightened of the snakes and spiders in the video, towards the end I found myself wanting to possibly pursue a career devoted to venom research.
Normally when we watch non-fiction videos in class they dont really catch my attention and i catch myself dozing off, but this film was different. It was very interesting how venom in animals can help humans in so many different ways. I always just thought of venomous animals as scary and useless, but after watching this i feel a lot differently about the situation. My favorite thing that was focused on was the cone snail because I just thought i never would have known how venomous it is by just looking at it. I guess now that i know how snake venom can be used to cure so many things like cancer and deadly diseases, i will no longer hate them so much but i will definitely still be scared because if their venom is strong enough to beat cancer, then it is definitely enough to kill me if i encounter it. After seeing the animal testing in this video and having some of them almost die, makes me not so much a fan of animal testing. When using venom this powerful, i feel like it is just very cruel to the animals. This video was very informative and taught me a lot about something i have always been very afraid of. “Snakes use venom to alter biological functions, and that’s what medicine does too,” said John Perez and this relates back to the video and actually shows how snakes use it to kill, and we use their venom as medicine to alter cancer and diabetes. Because venoms are so complex, it may take some time to make a lot of progress but it is definitely being made. It is crazy to think that people even think to experiment like this but because of people like that, our medicine world is doing many new things.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0601_040601_tvsnakes1.html
I think the scientists who handle these posionous and deadly creatures are incredibly brave. I can’t believe that these people risk their own lives to hopefully create a cure for a disease. I don’t know if I would be able to do what these men a women do. It’s terrifying! Because these people are putting themselves in danger, we are learning and creating amazing things! Today, we have access to many different types of anti-venom, which saves thousands of lives every year. But scientists have only begun to unlock venom’s potential as a life saver. According to the journal of the National cancer institute, some proteins in venom have the ability to stop the growth of cancer cells! http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/93/4/261.full
I don’t really mind when scientists use animals for research. Sure, sometimes the animals (mostly mice and rats) are killed. But these animals are vital for our survival as humans. Drug companies need to test their products on other animals to make sure they are safe for people to use. Would you rather have some mice die, or a person? Without the use of animals, we would not have access to many of the drugs we use today. I believe it’s okay to sacrifice a few mice for the cure of a disease that could save thousands of lives.
I thought that the video was great. I grew up watching a lot of shows on animal planet and have always liked animals. I think that it would be pretty tight to be one of the scientists that work with animals that dangerous so they can help cure diseases. One thing I found very interesting was the fact that the boz jelly fish could be the most lethal animal in the world. I never realized a small jellyfish or a snail could be able to kill a human. Since the venom is so, strong though it can also be used to help people like with pain and other things. You can find the ways it can be used here: http://www.mydr.com.au/cmis/ReducedPDFs/CMR02935.pdf
I really enjoyed watching the movie, Venom: Nature’s Killer. I never knew that a poisonous venom could be used to save lives. I was especially fascinated by the Cone Snails. I would never expect a snail to be dangerous, especially because of their lack of speed. I learned that the Cone Snail is very dangerous because it can shoot a lethal harpoon into its victim. I wondered throughout the film if a snail could harm itself with its own harpoon or harm other cone snails. This website informed me that they rarely harm themselves with the harpoon, and if they do they are paralysed until the poison wears off. http://www.theconesnail.com/faqs#can-the-snails-harpoon-themselves-harm-themselves
I am against animal cruelty, but I understand the reasons for animal testing. Like the mouse in the video, I was said that it was subject to testing, but from that process many human lives could be saved. This is why this issue is so controversial.
The scientists that were in the video were fascinating to me. They were so passionate about the field of work they were in, and this passion is exemplified in the situations they put themselves in. For example the scientist who was in Vietnam looking for poisonous snakes. He could die trying to get their venom, but that doesn’t stop them. I am very interested in medicine, and even though I do not like snakes and spiders, the doctors who were getting this poison, wish to use it to help patients. It is fascinating that we are figuring out ways to isolate certain proteins from venom, to help the progression of medicine. Although the only way we do get anywhere in medicine is through animal testing. I know it can be sad, but there has to be trials to see how the medicine will react with in the body. I know it can be sad to see the little mice being experimented on, but those mice have helped develop hundreds of medicines that people use today. I was surprised that I liked the movie, because the venomous creatures creep me out, but the documentary was interesting.
Upon seeing these scientists and what they are investigating, I was surprised by their bravery and their conviction. Each of these scientists goes into situations that could be very dangerous in the interest of making progress in their field and helping other people. What caused me to truly admire and understand these scientists was the scene where the Australian scientist was discussing how venom has great potential and that if we do not help these creatures not only will they die out but we will be deprived of advances in medical science that could really help us. People often think that conservation efforts are solely out of charity, but in reality animals could help us as much as we could help them. From this article: medically.http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes I learned that proteins from snake venom are presently being used in experiments to test their potential to fight cancer in animals. My views on the use of animals as test subjects are complicated. I understand the problem of putting animals in pain or hurting them, but I also know how difficult it is to make helpful discoveries without animal testing. I’m not sure if I could completely openly disagree with animal testing while benefitting from the discoveries that have come from it.
I am conflicted. I am impressed that over thousands of years animals can produce such deadly and amazing venom. i am impressed that something only a fraction of my size can kill me within a matter of seconds. It is also amazing that people can turn such deadly materials into a life savior. im looking forward to hearing what the next breakthough with venom will be. sadly after watching this video i have comfirmed my own fears of the outdoors and the deep seas.http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes
I thought this video was really interesting. I had heard before that venom could be used in medicine, but I didn’t know specifically how it worked. It could help scientists find treatments for things like heart disease (http://science.education.nih.gov/animalresearch.nsf/Story1/Making+Medicines+from+Poisonous+Snakes). I thought it was cool to see what the scientists did with the venom once they had caught the snake or spider. On tv, sometimes you only see the part of the process when the scientists capture the animals. I enjoyed getting to see the process of working with the venom in the lab, but was kind of sad to see the mouse being used as a test subject. However, I think that it is necessary and beneficial to society to use animals as test subjects sometimes, even though some people may disagree.
I think that testing on animals is alright to benefit ourselves, because without testing throughout history, there would not have been many breakthroughs in scientific discovery. Also animal testing prevents any unnecessary and dangerous human testing, because when we test on similar animals to humans, we can figure out if these drugs/experiments would be fatal to humans. (http://www.cghm.org/wow/2006/why-we-should-test-on-animals)
Also humans are not being intentionally cruel to animals while doing this, they do not continuously subject these animals to tests because they want to hurt them. They test these things on animals because they want to make the quality of life for everything better in the end.