image: The Tiger Rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris) possesses a highly neurotoxic, simple venom, that feeds on small mammals and lizards. Santa Catalina Mountains, Pima County, AZ, USA. view more
Credit: Image credit: Wolfgang Wüster (Bangor University, Bangor, UK)
A study of the genetic variation behind the production of the simple, yet highly toxic venom of the Tiger Rattlesnake finds that the number of venom genes greatly exceeds the number of venom proteins, suggesting that genetic regulatory mechanisms, rather than gene number or sequence, are largely responsible for this rattlesnake's venom.
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Article #20-14634: "The Tiger Rattlesnake genome reveals a complex genotype underlying a simple venom phenotype," by Mark J. Margres et al.
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