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> This super-mouse has probably evolved its resistance to the viper bite because it is a key component of the snake's diet. How does that work exactly? Surely
by junto 11y ago
> This super-mouse has probably evolved its resistance to the viper bite because it is a key component of the snake's diet.
How does that work exactly?
Surely to evolve, you need to procreate, and then through mutations, we get some kind of increased defence.
In order to evolve some kind of anti-venom, presumably you need to get bitten, which I assume kills the mouse, and as everyone knows - dead mice don't procreate.
Is it maybe from a partial bite?
- oppositelock 11y agoIt's not a binary thing, and it's why mortality is measured with LD50 (lethal dose for 50% of exposed subjects). The actual distribution is a curve spanning a spectrum of venom resistance. The snake eliminates more mice with lesser resistance than mice with greater resistance, and over time, the mice with higher resistance have more offspring. This is more of an adaptation driven change than a random mutation driven one.