Venomous: How Earth's Deadliest Creatures Mastered Biochemistry

In this book author and molecular biologist Christie Wilcox investigates venoms and their animal hosts, revealing their functions, effects on humans, and potential in biochemistry and medicine.

Wilcox journeys from Indonesia to Peru, encountering jellyfish with deadly darts, a caterpillar with toxic bristles, and a blue-ringed octopus with paralyzing saliva. She explores how simple animals can evolve intricate poisons and how snakes possess enzymes that tear through tissue without harming themselves. Wilcox meets fearless scientists studying these lethal beasts and risks her life to examine them closely. Drawing on her research, she shows how venom is unraveling the mechanisms of devastating diseases. This book reveals that feared animals hold the keys to understanding evolution, adaptation, and immunity.

(This remainder book contains a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and shows signs of shelfwear.)