Let’s learn about venom

aggressive: (n. aggressiveness) Quick to fight or argue, or forceful in making efforts to succeed or win.

antibodies: Any of a large number of proteins that the body produces from B cells and releases into the blood supply as part of its immune response. The production of antibodies is triggered when the body encounters an antigen, some foreign material. Antibodies then lock onto antigens as a first step in disabling the germs or other foreign substances that were the source of those antigens.

artificial intelligence: A type of knowledge-based decision-making exhibited by machines or computers. The term also refers to the field of study in which scientists try to create machines or computer software capable of intelligent behavior.

average: (in science) A term for the arithmetic mean, which is the sum of a group of numbers that is then divided by the size of the group.

blood vessel: A tubular structure that carries blood through the tissues and organs.

clot: (in medicine) A collection of blood cells (platelets) and chemicals that collect in a small region, stopping the flow of blood.

compound: (often used as a synonym for chemical) A compound is a substance formed when two or more chemical elements unite (bond) in fixed proportions. For example, water is a compound made of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. Its chemical symbol is H₂O.

coral: Marine animals that often produce a hard and stony exoskeleton and tend to live on reefs (the exoskeletons of dead ancestor corals).

enzymes: Molecules made by living things to speed up chemical reactions.

extract: (v.) To separate one chemical (or component of something) from a complex mix.

food web: (also known as a food chain) The network of relationships among organisms sharing an ecosystem. Member organisms depend on others within this network as a source of food.

gecko: A small to medium sized reptile found in warm to equatorial regions of the world. Some 2,000 different species of this lizard exist, in a wide range of colors. These reptiles eat insects, worms and even the occasional small bird. But they are best known for being able to climb slick surfaces, owing to special structures on the bottom surfaces of their feet.

immune: (adj.) Having to do with immunity. (v.) Able to ward off a particular infection. Alternatively, this term can be used to mean an organism shows no impacts from exposure to a particular poison or process. More generally, the term may signal that something cannot be hurt by a particular drug, disease or chemical.

immune system: The collection of cells and their responses that help the body fight off infections and deal with foreign substances that may provoke allergies.

invertebrate: An animal lacking a backbone. About 90 percent of animal species are invertebrates.

limb: (in physiology) An arm or leg.

lizard: A type of reptile that typically walks on four legs, has a scaly body and a long tapering tail. Unlike most reptiles, lizards also typically have movable eyelids. Examples of lizards include the tuatara, chameleons, Komodo dragon, and Gila monster.

mammal: An animal distinguished by possessing hair or fur, the secretion of milk by females for the feeding of their young, and (typically) the bearing of live young. They also are warm-blooded (or endothermic).

marine: Having to do with the ocean world or environment.

organ: (in biology) Various parts of an organism that perform one or more particular functions. For instance, an ovary is an organ that makes eggs, the brain is an organ that makes sense of nerve signals and a plant’s roots are organs that take in nutrients and moisture.

paralysis: The inability to willfully move muscles in one or more parts of the body. In some cases, nerves that carry the signal to move may have been severed or damaged. In other cases, the brain may be the source of the problem: It may fail to understand or act on a nerve’s signal to move.

plasma: (in medicine) The colorless fluid part of blood.

platypus: Sometimes known as the duckbill, this shy Australian egg-laying mammal (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) has a streamlined body and flat bill. Its waterproof fur allows it to comfortably navigate in rivers and other waterways, where it feeds on invertebrate animals that live in the sediment. It uses electrical signals given off by the muscles of its prey to find its food. Males have a spur on the inner side of each ankle releases venom for use in their defense.

podcast: A digital audio or video series that can be downloaded from the Internet to your computer or smartphone. Some podcasts also are shows that are broadcast on radio, television or other media.

potent: An adjective for something (like a germ, poison, drug or acid) that is very strong or powerful.

prey: (n.) An organism hunted by another, often for food. (v.) To attack and eat another organism.

protein: A compound made from one or more long chains of amino acids. Proteins are an essential part of all living organisms. They form the basis of living cells, muscle and tissues; they also do the work inside of cells. Antibodies, hemoglobin and enzymes are all examples of proteins. Medicines frequently work by latching onto proteins.

sea: An ocean (or region that is part of an ocean). Unlike lakes and streams, seawater — or ocean water — is salty.

secretion: A liquid substance — perhaps a hormone, an oil or saliva — released by the body, often by an organ, such as the eye, pancreas or skin.

species: A group of similar organisms capable of producing offspring that can survive and reproduce.

spider: A type of arthropod with four pairs of legs and two main body sections (a head-thorax combination and an abdomen). Spiders often have the ability to spin threads of silk they can use to create webs or other structures.

symptom: A physical or mental indicator generally regarded to be characteristic of a disease. Sometimes a single symptom — especially a general one, such as fever or pain — can be a sign of any of many different types of injury or disease.

system: A network of parts that together work to achieve some function. For instance, the blood, vessels and heart are primary components of the human body’s circulatory system. Similarly, trains, platforms, tracks, roadway signals and overpasses are among the potential components of a nation’s railway system. System can even be applied to the processes or ideas that are part of some method or ordered set of procedures for getting a task done.

toxic: Poisonous or able to harm or kill cells, tissues or whole organisms. The measure of risk posed by such a poison is its toxicity.

toxin: A poison produced by living organisms, such as bacteria, algae and certain plants (such as poison ivy). Bees, spiders, snakes and other animals also produce toxins. These are referred to as venoms.

urchin: Small, spine-covered sea animals without eyes or limbs which are related to sand dollars and starfish.

venom: A poisonous secretion of an animal, such as a snake, spider or scorpion, usually transmitted by a bite or sting. A single venom may contain a mix of toxins.