What specific gene family underpins the woodrat's remarkable resistance to rattlesnake venom?
Answer
The SERPIN family of genes
The extraordinary resistance woodrats exhibit towards rattlesnake venom, surviving doses far exceeding those lethal to a standard mouse, is directly attributed to genetic mechanisms involving the SERPIN family of genes. These genes produce specialized proteins that function to bind to and effectively neutralize critical toxic components found in the venom, which includes both neurotoxins and hemotoxins. This represents an active coevolutionary adaptation against a persistent predator threat.
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