• Question: what is the top 10 deadly molicules !!!!!

    Asked by qwer to Alison, Artem, Caroline, John, Gunther on 11 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Artem Evdokimov

      Artem Evdokimov answered on 11 Jun 2012:

      This is a fantastic question 🙂

      If you consider molecules to include very large molecules (proteins) than the deadliest ten would all be protein toxins like Ricin, Botulism Toxin and so on.

      If you consider only ‘smaller’ molecules then you will end up with a list full of Conotoxin, Tetrodotoxin, and Palytoxin relatives – typically produced by toxic snails, corals, fish, etc. (it’s amazing how many toxic creatures live in the sea).

      Finally, if only the very small molecules are considered then we end up in the world of Dimethyl Mercury, various radioactive isotopes (Cobalt or Polonium for example), and suchlike. Cyanide and Arsenic don’t really even make the list – compared to the rest they’re not really all that bad…

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