Snake venom is highly modified saliva containing zootoxins used by snakes to immobilize and digest prey or to serve as a defence mechanism against a potential predator or other threat. The venom produced by the snake's venom gland apparatus is delivered by an injection system of modified fangs that enable the venom to penetrate into the target.
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| Venom Fang |
Snake venom contains a vast number of toxins that target proteins in platelets, "Some of those toxins prevent platelets from clotting, which can lead to profuse bleeding in snake bite victims. Others, like the one we've focused this research on, potently activate platelets, which results in blood clots. Identification of the molecular targets of many of these toxins has made an enormous contribution to our understanding of platelet activation and related diseases.
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| Russell Viper |
In this clip, a single drop of this venom (from a Russell's viper) is dripped onto a petri dish of blood, and in seconds the blood clots into a thick chunk of solid matter.
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| Blood Clot |
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