Contact: J. Michael McIntosh
mcintosh.mike@gmail.com
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University of Utah

A Shell from the Snail Conus omaria

Caption: A shell from the venomous cone snail Conus omaria, which lives in the Pacific and Indian oceans and eats other snails. University of Utah scientists have discovered a new toxin in this snail species' venom, and say it will be a useful tool in designing new medicines for a variety of brain disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, depression, nicotine addiction and perhaps schizophrenia.

Credit: Kerry Matz, University of Utah

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