The evolution of venom and its role in shaping biodiversity

该项目旨在研究毒液，自然界最强大的武器，如何进化和塑造生物多样性。使用标志性的澳大利亚和新几内亚的毒蛇作为模型，该项目预计将开发一种新的方法来配置文件从博物馆标本的毒液成分，测试竞争假说的毒液的进化，并测试毒液的进化和物种丰富度和形态多样性的进化之间的关联。预期成果包括任何动物群体的最大毒液数据库，以及更好地了解毒液如何进化以及它们在地球生物多样性中扮演的角色。所产生的毒液数据有可能用于未来的研究，以帮助开发抗蛇毒血清和药物。

This project aims to study how venom, nature's most powerful weapon, evolves and shapes biodiversity. Using the iconic Australian and New Guinean venomous snakes as a model, this project expects to develop a novel approach to profile venom composition from museum specimens, test competing hypotheses on the evolution of venoms, and test for the association between the evolution of venoms and the evolution of diversity in species richness and morphology. Expected outcomes include the largest venom database for any animal group and a better understanding of how venoms evolve and what role they play in earth’s biodiversity. The generated venom data has potential to be used in future studies to aid in the development of anti-venoms and drugs.