Golden lancehead genome reveals how genes responsible for venom toxins evolved

A research team led by scientists at the Butantan Institute in São Paulo, Brazil, has completed the most extensive genetic sequencing of a jararaca viper to date. The focus of the study was the genome of the golden lancehead (Bothrops insularis), particularly its venom genes. Since the species shares most of its genes with the other 48 species in the genus, the data serve as a reference for broader studies on the evolution of jararaca vipers and their toxins. The study is published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution.