Hey, How About Gaining The Honey Badger's Mutant Power of Immunity To All Poisons?

The possum (or "oppossum," whatever) has a protein that neutralizes "almost all" poisons.

Seriously -- almost all poisons. Even those that are completely human-manufactured, so you'd think "Oh, there's no way the protein could protect against them."

The BittelMeThis blog goes into further detail, explaining that scientists then injected mice with the LTNF protein and subjected the rodents to venom from otherwise deadly creatures, including Thailand cobras, Australian taipans, Brazilian rattlesnakes, scorpions and honeybees.

When the venom did not kill the mice, the mice were then exposed to deadly poisons, including ricin and botulinum toxin. And again, the LTNF [Lethal Toxin-Neutralizing Factor] protein was able to diffuse the poison, leaving the mice unharmed.

I like that these scientists just subjected these mice to a welter of the most deadly toxins in the world, and they survived, and rather saying "Okay, these mice have been through enough, let's retire them and give them apples and Cheerios every day for the rest of their natural lives, as a thank you for services rendered," they just say, "Okay, now let's hit these bastards with botulinum and ricin."

That's a Honey Badger frame of mind.

The next step will be a scientist asking, "Gee, I wonder if the protein protects them against being smashed to pieces with large hammers. Let's test that."

Thanks to LauraW.

posted by Ace at 05:57 PM

| Access Comments