Comments on: How a pit viper saved millions of lives: Snakes as drug factories

By: World’s Strangest | What Do Snakes and Sticks Have to Do With Doctors?

Thu, 24 May 2012 06:36:56 +0000

[...] represent the healing of snakebites. It might also have something to do with antivenom or the medicinal properties of snake [...]

By: Han

Han — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:36:57 +0000

@Steviepinhead: Did you know that ‘Vonk’ is Dutch for ‘Spark’?
I immediately flashed on the Girl Genius comics. Judging from how he carries himself, he certainly seems like a ‘Spark’

By: Steviepinhead

Steviepinhead — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:33:45 +0000

Not only was this an excellent (if venomous) discussion, but it introduced the outstandingly coolly-named Freek Vonk to a wider world.

I may have to petition the Pinhead clan mothers to allow me to use Freek Vonk as a supplemental screen name.

(Well, and I guess I’d need to request permission from F.V. himself. While I have little doubt he will feel honored to share his monicker with a Pinhead, I’ll stand back a suitable distance until I know for sure…)

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:28:41 +0000

Excellent post! But a krait is an elapid, not a pit viper

[CZ: I don't believe I made that mistake. Kraits led to the discovery of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Pit viper venom was developed into ACE inhibitors. Two different stories showing the value of venom.]

By: Luisa

Luisa — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 07:13:23 +0000

“If you’ve just been bitten by a venomous snake and your flesh is starting to rot and you can’t breathe…”

It’s one or the other, isn’t it? Tissue destruction with Crotalus atrox, paralysis and respiratory failure or cardiac arrest with Naja naja — is there a snake with venom that dissolves flesh and attacks the nervous system in equal measure?

And while I’m caviling: garter snakes eat worms and frogs and small birds and mice sometimes, but not rats. A rat would kick garter snake butt. Garter snakes are mostly kind of smallish. You grew up in the city, didn’t didn’t you?

Herpy trivia notwithstanding, great post.

By: Daniel J. Andrews

Daniel J. Andrews — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 17:15:03 +0000

Speaking of snake venom, I was talked into watching the movie GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra last night. sigh. Not even time well wasted.

By: Rich in NY

Rich in NY — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 15:15:25 +0000

The widely used drug Metoprolol which regulates heart beat was derived from the venom of the Brazilian pit viper. It’s helped keep me going for years!

By: Travis

Travis — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 02:37:54 +0000

Great post. I also love the video you posted.. Vonk’s personality is infectious!

By: Tracy

Tracy — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:20:28 +0000

I think you mean tirofiban, not tirobifan.

[CZ: Indeed! Thanks.]

By: ilene

ilene — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:42:59 +0000

Fun to watch and downright fascinating. Thank you!…the music made it a little difficult to understand what he was saying.(I’m 67 so maybe it’s just my ears) His site is excellent!