Final Course

Discussion with Participants

Proteins are chemicals and our bodies and many foods we eat are made up of proteins. Most proteins are not harmful to our bodies, but some are. Poisonous snakes have many proteins in their saliva. Some are toxic and are called venom. Snake venom is only poisonous when a snake bites you and releases its poisons into your bloodstream. If you drank snake venom or sucked it from a snake bite on your arm, it wouldn't be poisonous.

• Why do you think venom would not be poisonous if you sucked it from a snake bite or drank it? Note to Leader: Humans have enzymes in their digestive systems that break down the venom protein before gets to the bloodstream.

• How is what happens to venom in your digestive track similar to what happened in the Spit ‘N Cracker Activity?