Trivia
HardThe Blood Of What Marine Animal Is Used In Modern Medicine?
Answer: Horseshoe Crabs
Horseshoe crabs have blood with a unique property found in their genus and select other marine invertebrates: their blood contains a cell known as an amebocyte that serves as a defensive measure much like white blood cells in mammals.
The amebocytes found in horseshoe crab blood have proved invaluable in modern medical diagnostic work because of their simple and reliable action. An aqueous extract of the amebocytes known as Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) reacts strongly with bacterial endotoxins (even if the host bacteria is dead). As such, a blood sample of the patient can be mixed with the LAL and if it congeals (the reaction of the amebocyte to the endotoxins), it’s indicative of gram negative bacterial infection in the patient.
The process was first discovered by Fred Bang back in 1956 but was not approved by the FDA until 1970; since then the diagnostic test has been widely used and has completely replaced earlier methods (which relied on exposing a lab animal to the patient’s blood).
Trivia
Very HardThe First (And So Far Only) Person To Win Both An Ig Nobel and Nobel Prize Is?
Trivia
HardThe Last Slogan Blockbuster Video Used Was?
Trivia
HardWhich Classic Boardgame Has Been Solved For All Possible Outcomes?
Trivia
HardWhich Fictitious Drug Is Used By Researchers To Assess Participant Honesty?
Trivia
HardIn The MMORPG Ultima Online, One Of The Early Rare Items Sold For Real World Money Was?
Trivia
HardMicrosoft Once Released An Official Windows Training Video Starring Cast Members From?
Trivia
HardWhaling Is A Type Of Phishing Directed At?
Trivia
HardThe Oldest Actress To Portray A Bond Girl Is?