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[...] For a long time scientists believed that an animal's venom was consistent over time: once a venomous creature, always a venomous creature. However, through a close study of sea anemones, Dr. Yehu Moran of Hebrew University's Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science, found that animals change their venom several times over the course of a lifetime, adapting the potency and recipe of their venom to suit changing predators and aquatic environments.
[...] Dr. Moran found that while in the larvae stage, sea anemones produce uniquely potent venom that causes predators to immediately spit them out if swallowed. Later on, when the sea anemones grow big and become predators themselves, their venom adapts to their new lifestyle by producing a different kind of toxin, one best suited to catch small fish and shrimp. Over the course of a lifetime, as the Nematostella's diet changes and they move from one aquatic region to another, they adapt their venom to suit their new needs and environment.
"Until now, venom research focused mainly on toxins produced by adult animals. However, by studying sea anemones from birth to death, we discovered that animals have a much wider toxin arsenal than previously thought. Their venom evolves to best meet threats from predators and to cope with changing aquatic environments," explained Dr. Yehu Moran.
[...] Most fundamentally, Moran's study sheds more light on the basic mechanisms of Darwinism: How do animals adapt to their changing world and ecological habitats? The Nematostella, with its changing venom, provides us yet another clue.
(Score: 4, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 06 2018, @10:10AM (5 children)
More precisely: Nematostella - sea anemones that belong to the Cnidaria family.
The study didn't focus on other venomous creatures - I don't see how can one generalize starting from this.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 06 2018, @10:14AM (2 children)
I do change my venomous socks once they become too toxic even for me, which brings us one step closer to generalization.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday March 06 2018, @11:24PM
Most people change their socks more frequently.
It's just good personal hygene.
Do like everyone else and change socks more often. Ideally on the same day of the year that you change underwear. Others around you will thank you for it.
When trying to solve a problem don't ask who suffers from the problem, ask who profits from the problem.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 07 2018, @02:05AM
Do the world a favor and kill yourself, you useless worthless immature piece of subhuman waste.
(Score: 1) by cocaine overdose on Tuesday March 06 2018, @12:36PM (1 child)
Even more precisely: Namastaya doesn't change it's venom recipe as it pleases, but only during different stages of its growth. Like testosterone in a boy.
(Score: 2) by darkfeline on Tuesday March 06 2018, @08:09PM
I think you missed the part about the venom changing to suit their changing diet and environment?
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