Posted by:
BGF
at Sun Apr 23 23:47:40 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by BGF ]
>>I would love to know how to get into this field of research. Is is mostly biotoxicology, biomedicine, toxicology, herpetology, or some other field of science?
It can be approached from many different angles as it is an inherently complex area. Best angle to approach it from would be the one that interests you the most as you'll then be more driven. Passion = fuel.
>Do you know of any specific colleges that are well known for research of this type?
There are many people at various universities around the world doing excellent work. This is more of a consideration for grad school. Undergrad education would not involve this as a major, rather you'd be taking generic courses so the overall quality and reputation of the University would guide the decision.
>>Also, I always approve of discovering new information. I think that it is all valuable whether we can see why or not.
>>Of course I am not an expert, but I do believe that with growth in knowledge, there must be growth in terminology. I know nothing of the sorts of appeals necesarry to instate new terminology or classification, but I feel it will eventually be necesarry to classify venom and/or use terms that immediately identify its potency.
Actually, the components we've been isolating from the varanid venoms are quite potent. The key is quantity and efficacy of delivery. People get too caught up on potential human effects, which is totally outside of the evolutionary context.
>I imagine it would be necesarry to classify it into different groups for different reason. As far as preventing ignorant legislation, a classification based on threat to humans would make sure the information is put only to good use.
We have gone to great pains to distinguish venomous from a technical classification and venomous from a human medical classification. This is no different than segregating various colubrid snakes into groups that are venomous but of only triivial human concern (most of them, e.g. garter snakes) and venomous from a medical perspective (such as Conophis, Dispholidus, Phalotris, Rhabdophis, Thelatornis).
Cheers
Bryan
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Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
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Australian Venom Research Unit,
University of Melbourne
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Population and Evolutionary Genetics Unit,
Museum Victoria
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http://www.venomdoc.com
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RE: A few questions, a few concerns. - BGF, Sun Apr 23 23:47:40 2006