How Animals Help Scientists Create New Medicines
Introduction: The Wild Origins of Modern Cures Medicine often conjures images of clinical labs, pills, and synthetic chemistry. But in many cases, the key ingredients in life-saving treatments come from the wild. Animals, through millions of years of evolution, have developed unique chemical compounds to survive, communicate, defend, or heal themselves. These natural defenses and adaptations serve as blueprints for scientists seeking innovative treatments for human diseases. This exploration of nature, known as bioprospecting, is helping to discover new drugs,…