Last week, I covered a research paper investigating the origins of venom. The research team dug deep into the genomes of various venomous species and discovered the core metavenom network that lies at the heart of all reptiles and mammals that produce oral venom. Oral venoms are collections of proteins produced in the salivary glands of reptiles and mammals. All reptiles and mammals might share the basic architecture to evolve a venom under the right conditions. Still, no group has taken that pathway more than snakes. The types of proteins in their venom and the delivery mechanism snakes use have been heavily modified by nature.