Revolutionizing Human Medicine: Oxygen Molecules from Marine Life
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Introduction Have you ever wondered how some creatures survive in the most extreme environments on Earth? From the icy depths of the Antarctic to the scorching heat of hydrothermal vents. Nature has equipped certain organisms with incredible oxygen-transporting molecules. These molecules, like haemoglobin, aren’t just fascinating—they could hold the key to groundbreaking medical treatments for humans. Oxygen-transporting molecules, like haemoglobin, are proteins that carry oxygen from one place to another in living organisms. In humans, haemoglobin in our red blood cells delivers oxygen from our lungs to the rest of our body. Several organisms and animals possess haemoglobin or other oxygen-transporting molecules with potential medical benefits for humans. Some are so efficient that scientists are studying them to develop new medical treatments. The lugworm ( Arenicola marina ) is a marine worm that thrives in sandy or muddy coastal habitats. They survive in low oxygen an...