Sentences with phrase «in venom evolution»

In contrast to positive selection, the role of purifying selection (also known as negative selection, which is the selective removal of deleterious genetic changes from a population) has rarely been considered in venom evolution.

The results of a large - scale survey of venom variation in the two snake species, published January 8, 2015 in the journal Genetics, challenge common assumptions in venom evolution research, provide crucial information for rattlesnake conservation, and will help coral snake antivenom development.

Not exact matches

Our study provides unique genome - wide perspectives on the adaptive evolution of venom systems as well as protein evolution in general.

Dr Nicholas Casewell said: «These are the first snake genomes to be sequenced and fully annotated and our results in relation to the king cobra provide a unique view of the origin and evolution of snake venom, including revealing multiple genome - level adaptive responses to natural selection in this complex biological weapon system.

«Clearly, venom evolution in these two snake species has been shaped by different forces.

Researchers from LSTM, along with a team of international biologists who have recently sequenced the genome of the king cobra, say that their work reveals dynamic evolution and adaptation in the snake venom system, which seemingly occurs in response to an evolutionary arms race between venomous snakes and their prey.

The proposed «two - speed» mode of venom evolution highlights the fascinating evolutionary dynamics of this complex biochemical cocktail, by showing for the first time the significant roles played by different forces of natural selection in shaping animal venoms.

According to Drs. Moran and Sunagar, «The «two - speed» mode of evolution of animal venoms involves an initial period of expansion, resulting in the rapid diversification of the venom arsenal, followed by longer periods of purifying selection that preserve the now potent toxin pharmacopeia.

This process was hypothesized to result from an evolutionary chemical arms race, in which the invention of potent venom in the predatory animals and the evolution of venom resistance in their prey animals, exert reciprocal selection pressures.

Bryan Fry, head of the Venom Evolution Laboratory at the University of Queensland, generally agreed with that view in comments emailed to Quanta.

«Their fangs evolved to be like hole - punchers,» says Bryan Fry, head of the venom evolution lab at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.

«We only plan to produce a handful of Venom GT's in 2016 as we are also preparing for our next evolution, the Venom F5», said Hennessey.