/oss/taxonomy/term/1492/all en /oss/article/drugs-health-toxicity/poisons-can-be-drugs <p>Why do snakes make venom? Essentially to bring down prey for food, but snakes will also bite to defend themselves. Chemically, the poisons are very complex and are generally composed of numerous compounds, although these fall into two general categories. They either affect the nervous system or the circulatory system. Components can prevent the transmission of messages from one nerve cell to another, they can destroy red blood cells, prevent or enhance blood clotting, or directly affect the heart.</p> Tue, 11 Feb 2014 08:04:44 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2093 at /oss