There is a widespread view that the process of adaptation in complex systems is made
difficult due to an evolutionary cost of complexity that is reflected in lower evolvability. This …

Plants produce large numbers of phytochemical compounds affecting plant physiology and
interactions with their biotic and abiotic environment. Recently, chemodiversity has attracted …

The origin of snake venom involved duplication and recruitment of non-venom genes into
venom systems. Several studies have predicted that directional positive selection has …

Background Snake venoms are trophic adaptations that represent an ideal model to
examine the evolutionary factors that shape polymorphic traits under strong natural …

Venom represents a key adaptation of many venomous predators, allowing them to
immobilise prey quickly through chemical rather than physical warfare. Evolutionary arms …

Snakes of the Philodryadini tribe are included in the Dipsadidae family, which is a diverse
group of rear-fanged snakes widespread in different ecological conditions, including …

Lataste's viper (Vipera latastei) is a venomous European viper endemic to the Iberian
Peninsula, recognised as medically important by the World Health Organization. To date, no …

Developmental phenotypic changes can evolve under selection imposed by age-and size-
related ecological differences. Many of these changes occur through programmed …

Snakebite incidence at least partly depends on the biology of the snakes involved. However,
studies of snake biology have been largely neglected in favour of anthropic factors, with the …

Bungarus multicinctus is a widely distributed and medically important elapid snake that
produces lethal neurotoxic venom. To study and enhance existing antivenom, we explore …