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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] venom

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  • From: Douglas Woodard <dwoodard@becon.org>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] venom
  • Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 23:39:29 -0400

Proteins can be really complex structures whose function depends for example on the way they are folded. If venom depends for its action on something which can be easily disrupted, and proteins in cells are at least somewhat protected, I don't find it impossible that electric current could protective. Presumably the venom has to be more or less soluble to be harmful, and the electric current might make it insoluble.

I too would like more exact information, but research is not free.

Doug Woodard
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Sheridan Shumway wrote:
i would love to see the science behind how it works cause i just cant wrap my
mind around how it could possibly work.....venom isnt actually anything
special, its just a protein....in my mind saying electrical shock works to
destroy it is like saying boiling water will(which it will) but your going to
screw up all the other proteins there aswell....you could slow down venom by
putting your bitten hand into a pot of boiling water and holding it
there....but its going to destroy alot of other stuff aswell....just cant
wrap my head around how electrical shock can destroy the proteins that make
up venom but leave the rest of the proteins(human tissue) in the area of the
bite unhurt...would love to see the science explaining why it works if it
truely does....

Sheridan S.




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