How Horses Save Humans From Snakebites
Veritasium・2 minutes read
Venomous snakes in Australia are milked for antivenom production, with the federally funded program providing freely available and high-quality products. The traditional method of using horse antibodies for antivenom production is still predominant, despite ongoing research on genetically modified bacteria as an alternative approach.
Insights
- The Australian Reptile Park extracts venom from snakes to produce antivenom, which is crucial in saving lives from snake bites, with a federally funded program ensuring free availability of high-quality antivenom in Australia.
- The process of producing antivenom involves milking venom from snakes, particularly the large coastal taipan, with the venom targeting various molecular pathways in the body, requiring careful extraction methods due to the potent and diverse effects of snake venom. Despite ongoing research into alternative production methods using genetically modified bacteria, the traditional method involving horses remains predominant, despite associated risks and challenges.
Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free
Recent questions
How is snake venom extracted for antivenom?
By milking snakes at the Reptile Park.