Citation

Casewell NR, Wüster W, Vonk FJ, Harrison RA, Fry BG. Trends Ecol. Evol. (Amst.) 2013; 28(4): 219-229.

Affiliation

Molecular Ecology and Evolution Group, School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK; Alistair Reid Venom Research Unit, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK. Electronic address: n.casewell@bangor.ac.uk.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.tree.2012.10.020

PMID

23219381

Abstract

Venoms have evolved on numerous occasions throughout the animal kingdom. These 'biochemical weapon systems' typically function to facilitate, or protect the producing animal from, predation. Most venomous animals remain unstudied despite venoms providing model systems for investigating predator-prey interactions, molecular evolution, functional convergence, and novel targets for pharmaceutical discovery. Through advances in 'omic' technologies, venom composition data have recently become available for several venomous lineages, revealing considerable complexity in the processes responsible for generating the genetic and functional diversity observed in many venoms. Here, we review these recent advances and highlight the ecological and evolutionary novelty of venom systems.

Language: en