Scorpion Venom Used as a Pain Killer

By Phillip Messineo, Lally Homans, and Gordon Spector 

Morphine

• Morphine is a potent pain killer.• Like other opium-like drugs, morphine is very addictive.• When used, the pain killer affects the central nervous

system (CNS).

Description

• Recently, a professor at Tel Aviv University discovered that the scorpion's venom could be an alternative for morphine.

• Professor Michael Gurevitz says that the natural compounds found in scorpion's venom have evolved and can now take away pain without having very bad side effects.

 

Description Continued

• Professor Gurevitz is studying Israeli Yellow Scorpions.• Toxins called peptides are in the scorpions• mix with sodium channels in muscular system and nervous

system • Sodium channels guide/direct pain. • Some of these sodium channels tell the brain that the body

is in pain.• Humans have nine  sodium channels.

Problems

• The Israeli Yellow Scorpion has over 300 peptides in its body.

• Out of these 300+ peptides, only some of them have been observed.

Benefits

• Morphine- Addictive...The new Scorpion venom drug- not.• The drug would help with:

o  bad burns,o  major cuts,o  could be a very good medicine in the military,o good for bad injuries 

• Works quickly,and effectively

QUESTIONS

 

Acknowledgments• http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100216163341.htm?

utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29&utm_content=Netvibes

•  www.wilsonsbiologylab.com• google docs • http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YbfDNTAiZQ8/Snw3su_VcRI/

AAAAAAAADbQ/HBOhKVWlW9g/s200/arizona_bark_scorpion.jpg• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphine• http://files.turbosquid.com/Preview/

Content_2009_07_14__00_07_03/scorpio.jpg92B9A1A1-299D-40C6-BBEA7F68FD4402EF.jpgLarge.jpg

• http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/flightinternational/scorpion.gif

 Seminar Questions

• Do you think that using scorpion venom is a good alternative for morphine?

• If you needed to, would you use the new pain killers? Why/why not?

• Even though Professor Gruevitz says that there will not be any side effects, what do you think could happen?

• What other animal could be used if scorpions became extinct? 

•