
Guardian Trading Cards
TRADING CARDS
PYGMY Rattlesnake
Sistrurus miliarius
Small venomous pygmy rattlesnakes are used in biomedical research: key proteins and peptides in their venom have been used to develop FDA-approved drugs used to treat hypertension, deep vein thrombosis and angina.
Nurse Shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
Possessing one of the smallest shark genomes, nurse sharks are the primary non-mammalian model organism for immune system research. They produce Variable New Antigen Receptors (VNARs) that can be used as therapeutic antibody fragments.
Japanese Rice Fish
Oryzias latipes
A hardy model organism with a short life cycle and transparent embryos, Japanese rice fish are ideal for genetic and developmental biology research.
Dolphin
Delphinus delphis
With a high genetic and physiological similarity to humans, dolphins offer unique insights into complex human traits, including metabolism, aging, and brain cognition.
Sticky Monkeyflower
Diplacus aurantiacus
A plant that thrives in dry, rocky areas, the sticky monkeyflower is used in climate research, including drought and temperature impacts on flower microbes.