Alligator Blood May Be Source of New Antibiotics

esocid writes "Biochemists from McNeese State University have described how proteins in gator blood may provide a source of powerful new antibiotics to help fight infections associated with diabetic ulcers and severe burns. This new class of drug could also crack so-called 'superbugs' that are resistant to conventional medication. Previous studies have showed alligators have an unusually strong immune system; unlike humans, alligator immune systems can defend against microorganisms such as fungi, viruses, and bacteria without having prior exposure to them. Scientists believe that this is an evolutionary adaptation to promote quick wound healing, as alligators are often injured during fierce territorial battles."

Comments

Re:Why evolution?

[NIckGorton]

Or conversely, alligators as a species have always had these antibiotics. Why is it that every interesting or perplexing feature about a species must be somehow attributed to, or be a product of, evolution? Um, because every perplexing feature of a species is a product of evolution. Unless you feel that "alligators as a species [sic]" somehow were magically created with the wave of some supernatural creator's wand, then there is no way that they can have 'always been there' except as a product of the evolution of the genus.

I'm as much a believer in evolution as the next, but I've grown a bit tired of every amazing discovery being associated with evolution. No you aren't. You are a creationist theo-tard who is trying to utilize feigned credibility as a real scientists to make his ignorant claims have some reasonableness.

Thanks for playing. And by the way, alligators are a genus, not a species.