Rattlesnakes from the Albuquerque Bio Park are the newest research assistants in the fight against cancer. From KOAT in New Mexico:

“We know the protein out of the rattlesnake venom kills these cancer cells in their tracks. Cancers may become a thing of the past thanks to these rattlesnakes,” Doug Hotle, with the Albuquerque BioPark Zoo, said.

Four western diamondback rattlers are headed to a venom lab in Kentucky. The snakes’ venom will be milked, then freeze-dried and sent to scientists in France. Researches will take the venom and extract a protein that could eventually save lives.

“Venom as a whole can be a bad thing. Venom is made up of hundreds of individual proteins, but when we take these proteins apart and we look at what each protein does ... it is a great elixir of different compounds that could be used for biomedical research,” Hotle said.

Doug and the Bio Park are also organizing the 2012 Venom Workshop to help aid in research techniques, captive management as well as serving as a way to certify proper hours for private ownership. Check out the workshop here -- and kingsnake.com will be there!