Scientists Unravel Secret of the Puffer Fish
Independent Online, South Africa
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Singapore:
Scientists in Singapore said on Tuesday that they have uncovered the mystery of how the puffer fish survives despite the deadly poison in its body. 
Research by the National University of Singapore (NUS) showed the toxin, which is 20 times more deadly than cyanide, helps the fish to breed and defend itself against predators.
A process known as "evolutionary adaptation" allows it to become immune to the tetrodotoxin poison which comes from the food it eats, primarily marine life contaminated with the toxin."By comparing the genome sequences of puffer fish, zebra fish and man, the team was able to pinpoint an evolutionary adaptation that enabled puffer fishes to attain resistance to the poison, tetrodotoxin," the IMCB and NUS said in a statement.
Nov 23 2005
Independent Online, South Africa
_________________________
Singapore:
Scientists in Singapore said on Tuesday that they have uncovered the mystery of how the puffer fish survives despite the deadly poison in its body.
Research by the National University of Singapore (NUS) showed the toxin, which is 20 times more deadly than cyanide, helps the fish to breed and defend itself against predators.
A process known as "evolutionary adaptation" allows it to become immune to the tetrodotoxin poison which comes from the food it eats, primarily marine life contaminated with the toxin."By comparing the genome sequences of puffer fish, zebra fish and man, the team was able to pinpoint an evolutionary adaptation that enabled puffer fishes to attain resistance to the poison, tetrodotoxin," the IMCB and NUS said in a statement.
Nov 23 2005
