Alligators rarely suffer from infections because they have robust immune systems
The alligator’s massive jaws and powerful tail mark it as a relic of the dinosaur age, a primitive creature that would appear to have little in common with humans.
Yet scientists are studying aspects of alligator biology that could lead to new medical treatments and a better understanding of threats to the environment.
In the bayous of Louisiana, researchers have discovered that alligators have a ferocious immune system that can take down a vast range of viruses, bacteria and other infectious microbes, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
And in the lakes and marshes of Florida, they have found that the reptiles are extraordinarily sensitive to pesticides, fertilizers and other pollutants, making them a useful early-warning system of possible hazards to people.
Because of the alligator’s potential value to human health, scientists have proposed adding it to the short list of animals whose genes will be sequenced.
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