BI2EVP5-Venoms and Poisons

Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Prof Phillip Dash
Email: p.r.dash@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module aims to provide the student with a comprehensive overview of venoms and poisons, including an introduction to important venomous and poisonous animals and poisonous plants, including the role of the venoms or poisons for defence or predation. This module will cover the evolution of venoms and poisons, the biochemistry underpinning their synthesis and mechanism of action, general principles of toxicology and an overview of their medical uses.

Aims:

This module aims to provide the student with a comprehensive overview of venoms and poisons, including an introduction to important venomous and poisonous animals and poisonous plants, including the role of the venoms or poisons for defence or predation. This module will cover the evolution of venoms and poisons, the biochemistry underpinning their synthesis and mechanism of action, general principles of toxicology and an overview of their medical uses.

Assessable learning outcomes:

At the end of this course students should be able to: • Describe the most important types of venomous and poisonous animals and give examples of important poisonous plants • Understand how venoms and poisons have evolved • Understand the principles of how venoms and poisons are synthesized, stored and delivered. • Understand how venoms and poisons work by interfering with normal physiological processes. • Describe the key principles of toxicology. • Understand th e current uses (including medical, research and agricultural)Ìýand potential future uses of venoms and poisons.

Additional outcomes:

Students will enhance their team work in a practical classÌýculminating in a written report.

Outline content:

The course will start with an overview of venoms and poisons and introduce the aims of the module. Examples of important venomous animals and poisonous plants will be given along with a focus on their ecology and their evolution. The biochemistry of venom/poison synthesis and mechanisms of delivery will be discussed. How these venoms and poisons exert their effects will also be discussed by examining their pharmacology and toxicology. Finally, many of these venoms and poisons have medical app lications and so the use of venoms and poisonsÌýin medicine will be discussed along with emerging applications of animal venoms.

Lecture topics include:

• An overview of venoms and poisons


• Snakes


• Invertebrate chemical defences


• Marine venoms and poisons


• Plants


• Bioprospecting


• Biochemistry of poisons


• Treatments for poisonings and enve nomations


• Uses of venoms and poisons.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The course will consist of 20 lectures and a practical class. Supplementary information will be placed on Blackboard.