How Skinks and Honey Badgers Survive Cobra Venom

Quick Summary

• New research published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences reveals how some burrowing lizard species, called skinks, have evolved resistance to cobra venom.
• Out of 45 skink species examined, 13 showcase genetic adaptations using a sugar molecule called N-glycosylation to block cobra venomS effects. This mirrors methods used by cobras and mongooses for their resistance.
• The evolutionary adaptation likely emerged due to pressure from elapid snakes that arrived in Australia 30 million years ago, leading to mass predation on naïve native wildlife like skinks.
• Tissue samples from preserved specimens were used for testing; researchers recreated skink muscle receptors and exposed them to snake venom with successful results devoid of harming actual animals.
• findings suggest broader evolutionary patterns where similar threats provoke repeatable biological solutions-a concept termed as “evolutionary good tricks.”
• Potential medical applications include improving antivenom production through lab-designed molecules inspired by these resilient traits rather than customary methods involving animal antibodies.

!HONEY BADGER DON’T CARE: The highly meme-able mammals seem to have evolved the same molecular trick to avoid death by cobra as some skinks. photo by Jurgens Potgieter / Shutterstock

indian Opinion Analysis

This discovery highlights the intricate interplay between predator-prey relationships and natural selection over millennia,offering lessons not just in biology but also in innovation for science and medicine. For india, which is home to many species of venomous snakes (including cobras) and has an ongoing public health challenge with snakebite fatalities annually, this research holds particular relevance. Advancing local antivenom production using modern techniques inspired by such findings could provide safer and more affordable treatments aligned with ethical practices.

Moreover, studying India’s own diverse fauna could uncover similar evolutionary phenomena among native species exposed to predators like snakes over time-perhaps unlocking new knowledge applicable both locally and globally.

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