About this item
A thrilling tale of encounters with nature's masters of biochemistryIn Venomous, the molecular biologist Christie Wilcox investigates venoms and the animals that use them, revealing how they work, what they do to the human body, and how they can revolutionize biochemistry and medicine today.Wilcox takes us from the coast of Indonesia to the rainforests of Peru in search of the secrets of these mysterious animals. We encounter jellyfish that release microscopic venom-packed darts known to kill humans in just two minutes, a two-inch caterpillar with toxic bristles that trigger hemorrhaging throughout the body, and a stunning blue-ringed octopus with saliva capable of inducing total paralysis. How could an animal as simple as a jellyfish evolve such an intricate, deadly poison? And how can a snake possess enzymes that tear through tissue yet leave its own body unscathed? Wilcox meets the fearless scientists who often risk their lives studying these lethal beasts to find out, and puts her own life on the line to examine these species up close. Drawing on her own research on venom chemistry and evolution, she also shows how venom is helping us untangle the complex mechanisms of some of our most devastating diseases.Venomous reveals that the animals we fear the most actually hold the keys to a deeper understanding of evolution, adaptation, and immunity. Thrilling and surprising at every turn, Venomous will change the way you think about our natural world.
About the Author
Dr. Christie Wilcox is a scientist, science writer, and social media specialist. Through her writing, Dr. Wilcox shares her insatiable enthusiasm for biology, and she is renowned in the science blogosphere for her delicate balance of contemporary science and scientific perspective seasoned with just the right amount of wit. She pens the Science Sushi blog for Discover Magazine, and has written for a diversity of outlets, including The Washington Post, Scientific American, and The Wall Street Journal. She obtained her Ph.D. in 2014 in Cell and Molecular Biology with a specialization in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and she still lives in Hawaii where she currently works a postdoctoral trainee under the founder and director of the Pacific Cnidaria Research Laboratory, Dr. Angel Yanagihara. She continues her research on venomous animals, and her first book - Venomous, popular science book on venoms - released in August 2016. In her free time, she volunteers with schools and outreach organizations to share her enthusiasm for science with the next generation.
