Frog Poison - Periodic Table of Videos

[AxiomAnarcho]

there a walking chemist of toxins

[detoxtc]

Holy crap, drawing intricate structures on the vial? I synthesized a simple biaryl and couldn't be arsed to draw it.

I feel severely outclassed; well played good sir.

[820423]

If anyone knows, or feel secure in offering a sound speculation, please, do not hesitate. Mental question-bombs are dangerous afflictions. If left untreated, they can cause nausea, skin-rash and pseudo-science.

[820423]

Always the one nitrogen atom, the oxygen atom and the exact spacing between.

Just like anatoxin-A. Why is that? Why this concept over and over again? One is from a frog, the other from algae. Both kills by paralyzing muscle control. It seems like the achilles heel , for land-living animals.

Does these frogs and the blue green algae share any obvious evolutionary relations? What other organisms use this concept in their poison?

Oh, it feels like I just had a question-bomb go off in my head!

[Thetarget1]

@820423 It isn't because they are closely related. The key as to why those two molecules are similar, is probably because they mimic a molecule released by the synapse which fits in a receptor in the receiving neuron. The N and O structure probably fits this receptor perfectly, in a way that blocks the transmitter molecules from entering, and thus changing the neuron's action potential. This would essentially block the firing neuron. Just guessing though - it is a fascinating question-

[TerminalRhinoVirus]

Is Dr. Stockman a biochemist?

[Montyzumas1]

we are breeding them at our school

[rocospi]

This is kind of like nature's Martyrdom.

[98JMA]

I love how the rotavap is just gently getting on with its job in the background as you speak . . .

[SimbodTheAlchemist]

@98JMA Yay for rotavaps!!

[imantisocial]

is this what you ingest when you lick a frog?

[Desmaad]

A neuron is closer to a spark-gap in function than to a plug and socket.

[lexichronicle2]

It'd be even better if you had a biologist discuss how it fits the docking sites and such with these pharmaceutical videos. Or someone from industry when dealing with catalysts and such

[Skindoggiedog]

Can't believe the guy is laughing about sticking an arrow through a frog.

[Juxtaroberto]

@Skindoggiedog You don't stick it through the frog. You just need to rub it on the frog.

[tgoolsby2]

Why don't venomous and poisonous animals get poisoned from carrying these compounds in their bodies?

[copiga]

@tgoolsby2 probably some kind of natural immunity, that or they are produced and stored away from the nervous system

[japanesepoptart]

@tgoolsby2

You have to bear in mind that different species have different receptors for their nerves. While humans have receptors that react to this chemical, the frogs probably don't. another instance of this is theobromine, which comes from chocolate. while it acts as a stimulant in humans, cats and dogs lack the appropriate enzymes to break it down, leading to a toxic effect on the liver.

[1971ojoalparche1971]

When Dr. Stockman mentions that they wanted to synthesize this molecule and keep it for further study (around 4:16), I immediately thought that they wanted to keep it to defend their school against attackers.

I picture Dr. Stockman and Prof. Poliakoff with their darts and arrows defending the University of Nottingham against invaders, Manchester United fans I would imagine.

[Mojosbigstick]

Excellent video, but leaves me with one question. How does this neurotoxin enter the body, that the effect can be almost instantaneous? Does it pass through the skin? Even then, it takes time for blood to circulate any chemical round to the extremeties.

[japanesepoptart]

HAHA dem conquistadors prolly wer leik, "AHHHHH!" and teh natives wer leik, "WE PWND U!"

[tacoyum6]

Why does Robert always cover poison?

[kiybro]

My old headset only had audio on the right, so I couldn't watch this. Now I have a new headset, so I can finally watch this. YES!

[periodicvideos]

@kiybro can't believe you remembered!

[HRage]

@kiybro hehe next time, try reverse stereo in your speaker settings ;)

[progunist]

or you could use oliander...

[Jonay1990]

what are the purpose of these frogs in our world?

[phoenixflames44]

I have three of the frogs, similar to the blue one pictured in this video, called Dendrobates Azureus, and I have noticed they are quite bold compared to most frogs. I believe they are magnificent products of evolution that have developed an egotistical-like personality that remains even when the poison is absent.

[Ritzoid]

You guys should do a whole series on Organic Chemistry. So interesting and so much to learn!

[master9716]

Wow nice .

[varunasingh]

I think we could start a bio-chem and/or neurology podcast/youtube series. Go Nottingham!

[franktaveras]

awww!! Only one of my speakers work!! :(

[HTR2A]

Great video, im fascinated by the poisons developed evololutionary by different species for self deffence. Id love to see a video about poisons of water creatures, they are the most potent and deadly ones, for example maitotoxin

[markydeeks]

great video as always, I like to watch a video then look down the left at the suggested videos. anyways if you scroll down far enough it's there. Poison by Alice cooper! Awesome!

[afinkeln]

Love the video, but quite intrigued in the contradictory info I am finding pertaining to the relative toxicity of histrionicotoxin. Due to the tiny concentrations of the toxin, it depends on the site of administration and which nerve/nerves it acts on at the time. If it reaches the nerves of the diaphragm, then yes, tiny amounts will stop your breathing and you are cooked. Get it mostly in muscle fibers and only that part is paralyzed.

[TheKrazySystem]

wat exactly did they do over these millions of years to make these defence systems??

[ThirstyJuicebox]

@TheKrazySystem natural selection

[Dimy761]

@ThirstyJuicebox Wrong it was designed to remind doubting Christians of the devil!

[roidroid]

these frogs look FABULOUS

[opiumgland]

More organic chem and biochem and pharmacology videos please. Some of the reactions are quite telegenic (the most popular show in the US was Breaking Bad if I'm not mistaken)

[realcrunchyfrog]

I have severe RA so I know from pain, I saw a documentary on a pain treatment using capsacin to exhaust the "substance p" which is the neurotransmitter for pain and this supposedly keeps one pain free for about a month.

[GetMeThere1]

He mentioned something along the lines of "The frog doesn't need to make much of it..." and "over the years they developed this compound..."

Wikipedia says that it's likely that this particular compound--as well as most other poison dart frog compounds--are not made by the frog, but isolated from the insects they eat.

[ninjajesus81]

@GetMeThere1 Maybe they do make it, but the ingredients they need to make it are all from different insects.

[GetMeThere1]

@ninjajesus81 : Uh, and maybe the article said they didn't. Maybe anything, OK?

[ninjajesus81]

@GetMeThere1 What article did you read? I was looking at the poison dart frog article and it said it wasn't conclusive if it could make it or not.

Did you seriously just get upset over my comment?

[GetMeThere1]

@ninjajesus81 : I looked up "Histrionicotoxin." I thought your comment was pointless, I only related the information--anyone can look it up, research it further, or do as they please--a comment on my comment isn't necessary or useful. As I'm a biologist, the phenomenon of the frog isolating it rather than making it is particularly interesting to me. Faster breeder insects seem more likely to create a totally new compound more quickly than slower breeding frogs.

[ninjajesus81]

@GetMeThere1 You thought my comment was pointless so you responded with a pointless post of your own?

So any comment you deem unnecessary or not useful, you just respond back to them in a curt manner? What would society do without you?

[GetMeThere1]

@ninjajesus81 says "so you responded with a pointless post of your own?"

I responded to your question.

[ninjajesus81]

@GetMeThere1 I didn't ask a question.

[GetMeThere1]

@ninjajesus81 : Strange....I note three sentences in your comment...and two question marks. Please forgive me for interpreting those as questions.

[ninjajesus81]

@GetMeThere1 You said my comment was pointless, so I said you responded to my pointless comment with a pointless comment. The comment I made that you said was pointless had no questions in it.

[megaverse]

nice history lesson ...thanks 

[andythewooferguy]

i hope no one is deaf in the right ear, i can hear the sound on the left

[mrfamous333]

What he MEANT to say is, "Frogs are theorized to have evolved..."

[smashbar333]

you should do more poison movies, other chemical poisons would be nice to see =D

[viper100200]

Love all of these videos. Perfect for a chemistry nerd like me

[MadPuppets1]

please,please,please make a follow up to this video

[periodicvideos]

@MadPuppets1 what do you want us to follow up?

[shadowblack1987]

@periodicvideos Human testing, start with politicians =D

[jbohbot1]

@periodicvideos make another video about frogs.

[aeroscope]

So have you guys figured how to synthesize the molecule or are you still in the process of finding that out?

[yellowmetalcyborg]

Hmmm, careful Brady, I know this is a chemistry video but it might give the wrong people the wrong ideas. You said the quantity needed to kill a human, where to find it, shelf life and how to get it out of the frog on a video that anyone in the world can see. I'm scared now!

[BrainSalad212]

I'm am now terrified of frogs

[Muscleduck]

I am now breathing manually...

Interresting video... 1100 frogs, that's insane!

[TTerboLasers]

if it needs the oxygen molecule to be so "potent" will this chemical become stable in a vacume (0 oxygen environment) ?

[ytmoog]

@TTerboLasers

It is an oxygen atom which is part of the molecule which is part of the active site on the chemical. Not an oxygen molecule.

So air is not needed...

[DrAllan1]

That's really cool! wonder if there is any work going on to isolate the genetic sequence for the enzymes that form this compound

[scorpion779946]

it would be really lame if all birds developed the organ that secretes these toxins...

[SirFoggy2Doped]

Fascinating video:)

Is there any chance of building up an immunity to this toxin?

[l3oss2u]

@SirFoggy2Doped I would think that it could be possible but he said it is similar to acetyl choline, so wouldn't your body also try to get rid of that chemical, and that would be bad.

but idk, im no expert.

[TheRomans]

This has been one of my favorite non elemental videos in a while, I always enjoy different chemistry of how different things work that you guys make.

Thanks for the upload!!

Much love from CUI, California USA

[oisiaa]

Mono!

[shaurz]

It's amazing how such a small amount can be so devastating.

[Direkin]

The medical application mentioned reminds me of a film where they talked about using tetrodotoxin for the same purpose.

[Pazma1]

Powerful stuff.

[1993gandy]

is it my headphones or does the sound only from the left

[Eveoman]

I am now terrified of a frog the size of my thumbnail... Lame.

[Shannariano]

guys, I agree with your research for anti pain medicines and/or anesthetics, but please take care of your safety... I think we all would kile to continue seing the periodic table of videos :D

PS: if anyone dressed in blac (obviously a secret agent) enters your gates, keep the thermite handy :P)

[MichaelKingsfordGray]

Utterly captivating!

[mewrox99]

Is it just my speakers or is the only left side giving sound

[9b5as]

I've never liked chemistry, but your videos are very interesting. Thanks!

[Kyleidge]

I feel sorry for the person who has to draw the structures of these chemicals on those tiny bottles...

[periodicvideos]

@Kyleidge ha ha... nice one!

[Sparxdd]

@Kyleidge it's probably someone's hobby. haha

[deadgamer42]

chemical warfare

[randomviewer896]

if it gets inside of you, is it very easily cured?

[n310ea]

Great video Pete!!

[olympicfan2]

@n310ea this isnt pete

[culwin]

I've learned more from this channel than all of school before college.

[engelteir]

really interesting stuff!! Scary science! i hope there is an antidote or something! in case of accidents!

[engelteir]

really interesting stuff!! Scary science! i hope there is an antidote or something! in case of accidents!

[swedishgorilla1]

I don't know why people have to get all upset when evolution is talked about in a video, many parts of the theory are supported by the Bible. Especially micro evolution, to me this this just an amazing example of how God used evolution to form the creatures of this earth.

Absolutely amazing!

[nialld1990]

@swedishgorilla1 well said

[VulgarityDivine]

It's not a poison by the way... venoms are injected poisons are consumed

[VulgarityDivine]

so it's a nurotoxin or a hemotoxin?

[imover18gotityube]

The audio is only on the left.

[Jared2324]

@imover18gotityube I THOUGHT MY SPEAKERS BROKEEEE

[mshaw88]

@imover18gotityube dammit only my right ear works

[zakuma22]

@imover18gotityube Try to pull your pin half way the jacket. It will fixed it in these kind of situations.

[TheItalianPerson]

@imover18gotityube its stereo... both speakers

[GlobalWTF]

Is it just me or has this video only got the left channel of audio?

[shaurz]

@GlobalWTF Correct... my left speaker is broken so I can only hear a very faint sound on the right channel.

[Infloresence]

I realise that this wasn't about the actual evolution of the frog itself but I've still got ask, 'Why is it so deadly?' If a smallish bird tries to consume it, it dies almost immediately or at least appears so, or does it go into convulsions? there by informing others? Or is it the evolutionary effect on it's predators, eliminating the less aware birds, who don't know that most food is camouflaged and difficult to find?

[Craydon]

I would not want to have any of that lying around.

[peakbusiness]

Another great vid and another great presenter. This chap has got a great, easy to listen to voice.

Any chance you could name the presenters on the title page you run at the beginning of these vids ? These people deserve recognition for making the subject so intersting and simple to follow - even though I don't understand at least half of it :o)

If I'd have had teachers like those at this uni I'd have studied chemistry for sure.

You keep making 'em - I'll keep watching and learning. Thanks all

[homousios]

I suppose any poison in the right dosage could be beneficial

[puretroubleman]

there is only sound on the left speaker :(

[1RadicalOne]

What I love most about this video is the idiot creationist who went off simply because the professor used the word "Evolution".

Thank you for the humor, SteelersManiac.

[Infloresence]

@1RadicalOne I've gotta agree with you Rad1, well worth the scroll down. It's not often you find a creationist so far from their natural environment. You would have thought that a science channel was the last place they would surface, maybe trying out new territory due to competition at home....

[1RadicalOne]

Very true and amusingly put. :)

[freakin1random]

If its so toxic, how can they eat the animals they hunt with it? does cooking the meat destroy the chemical?

[iseesquares]

mono sound FTL!

[SealTeam1]

Is their any way to save a human who has accidental come in contact with this toxin? Could modern medicine save someone?

[uut0]

Dr Robert looks like my dentist

[TeoTheAwesome]

Don't feed the troll!

[aldld]

Damn it, apparently the sound is only coming out of the left speaker, and only the right speaker on my headphones works!

[goldenman212]

@aldld Pull the headphone Jack out a little.

[aldld]

@goldenman212 Nope, that doesn't help. But thanks.

[correip]

My right earphone has been switching on/off for a month go, it took me 5 minutes to notice that it was the video's fault D:

[danohrly]

I do believe TheSteelersManiac is trolling you all.

[RectumPilum]

The video is in mono (only left signal).

[AnthonyMimming]

This new guy is cool, you should start featuring him more often

[StillToListen]

Can 1 mg of this be detected in the blood after dilution in the body?

I was thinking of it used as in murder, such as perhaps in that oil man Matt Simmons death.

[Kobayashi113]

is it the same for jellyfish poison

[bugmenever]

People, he's just trolling. Stop responding to him and he'll go away.

[Squagnut]

I has questions!

1) Does the frog synthesize the poison as and when needed, or does it have a 'store' of it ready-mixed?

2) Is the frog immune to its own type of poison? I was thinking that when one frog loves another frog *very much*, they might have some problems!

3) Does the poison eventually break down when in a body? Or is it too stable for that?

[dollzandpinz]

I ate one :(

[crabbygaz]

Some brains are very clever things, some of them just try to wind people up.

Good vid.

[3eneboy]

lush.....

[okuma0kuma]

quaternion: So to all you drug addicts out there remember its toads and not frogs for licking

[kiybro]

Dammit, my broken ass headset only produces sound through the right headphone, so I can't hear this. :(

[theleftorium]

@kiybro your headset isn't broken, it's the same for me

[noobenstein]

It's amazing this chemical is so strong. A few molecules in the right place, can stop someone breathing?

It is an enzyme perhaps? Thats the only thing I can imagine is so strong. An enzyme for those who are new to chemistry, is a molecule that does some work... but is itself unchanged after doing that work, and so is free to go on doing more work :)

[XxDEBUGxX]

My headphones are broken and only project sound through the right ear.

I suppose I'm missing out on this video.

[theleftorium]

@XxDEBUGxX your headset isn't broken, it's the same for me

[RoyRogers87]

@XxDEBUGxX You know, if you ever encounter this in the future, you can just pull the minijack halfway out and you will get mono sound in both ears.. works for me anyways :)

[XxDEBUGxX]

@RoyRogers87

They jack in via USB unfortunately but thank you for the response in any case, a handy piece of information to have around.

[jacoman1234567]

Whoa, he had quite the poisonous samples up there if i saw them correctly!

[morareduard]

could you make a video about nerve gases such as sarin or vx?

[slapthatmech]

Is there any kind of antidote (either natural or synthetic) for this poison?

[FmMan33]

@TheSteelersManiac The bible also says that it's possible to live inside of a whale, and that the Earth is the center of the Universe. It also says that an Apple can make you instantly smarter, and that all of the earths animals can fit on one small boat for insanely long periods of time without any of the animals starving to death.

Wut do wen flood?

[FmMan33]

@TheSteelersManiac My point is, you say how the bible speaks the truth and that it's undeniably true... Explain to me how anything I just mentioned is possible. Please, I'd love to know.

[FmMan33]

@TheSteelersManiac Can't answer can ya?

[l3ushy]

@TheSteelersManiac lol you sad sack of shit

[Digeridude]

YouTube comments are depressing.

[rodbaker82]

@Digeridude , I second that.

[georgiafbi]

@TheSteelersManiac The Bible is Bullshit! Evolution is real!

[olympicfan2]

where is pete?

[periodicvideos]

@olympicfan2 Pete's been a very busy man, doing some serious science and jetting around the world... Hoping to get him back in front of the camera again soon!

[DeoMachina]

@periodicvideos Nevermind Pete, what about NEIL?

[doverlin]

Something tells me the military is more interested in this compound as a weapon than medical science is as a pain inhibitor. I suppose a step by step guide of how to synthesize this is out of the question?

[Itslvle]

@doverlin It's doubtful. Chemical weapons aren't really that "in" anymore and it's not like there aren't many compounds that have the exact same biochemical effect on the body as far as military use is concerned, but when talking about use in medicine the details matter a lot. Then it's important to know what else it does in the body, how long does it stay in the body etc.

[doverlin]

@Itslvle Phosphorous, depleted uranium, tear gas and novichok nerve agents are just a few off the top of my head. Believe me, the military is VERY interested in chemicals for potential overt or covert applications. Always have been and probably always will be.

[Itslvle]

@doverlin Sarin I think is at least one of the first, if not the first, chemical weapons that had the same affect that the toxin in this video has, though rather than acting like acetylcholine it prevents it's destruction, leading to the exact same problem: too much acetylcholine in the synapses. Sarin was in production in the second world war, but these days it's been outlawed.

[Itslvle]

@Itslvle Actually now that I googled histrionicotoxin, I noticed it's an antagonist rather than an agonist of acetylcholine so it will stop acetylcholine from doing what it's supposed to do. Funnily enough though, how the body reacts to this is pretty much the same, but the treatment isn't.

[sarahkirky]

@doverlin Once they've shown us the molecule, any chemist at a reasonable level can just work through a retrosynthesis, et voila! ;)

[MrTranceNinja]

@TheSteelersManiac You, my good sir, are a moron.

[MrTranceNinja]

@TheSteelersManiac I prefer love that isn't non-existent, personally.

[MrTranceNinja]

@TheSteelersManiac But God's omnipotent and omniscient! Surely we can not let such an act of injustice and inhumanity that has arisen amongst ourselves pass when the Almighty ever-continues to know about such a thing!? We must rejoice! Pray for forgiveness! Pray for humanity!

.....what an interesting frame of mind to have.

[MrTranceNinja]

@TheSteelersManiac Okay, I'm almost certain you're a troll now. Or perhaps a very ignorant one. (or perhaps both, for that matter)

[MrTranceNinja]

@TheSteelersManiac Urban Dictionary's definition: One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument.

[This can be done through incompetent comments and suchlike]

[MrTranceNinja]

@TheSteelersManiac So you're just a moron, as stated?