March 31, 2008: Abrus

xoxoxoBruce • Mar 30, 2008 2:16 pm
Abrus seed pod: "one of the components of this seed is one of the most toxic substances in nature. If it reach the blood, a few micrograms (1/1000000 g) is enough to die. It is similar to ricin (from castor oil plant) used to kill a soviet spy in London by an umbrella.

Image

OK, let's see a recipe for this one. ;)
skysidhe • Mar 30, 2008 2:41 pm
'They'll' ( the feds ) be knocking on your door now!
Cicero • Mar 30, 2008 4:05 pm
Heh. I just like the photo.
:)
Sundae • Mar 30, 2008 4:07 pm
Very Maori.
xoxoxoBruce • Mar 30, 2008 4:27 pm
Cicero;442708 wrote:
Heh. I just like the photo.
:)
Yeah, me too. :blush:
corydodt • Mar 30, 2008 4:30 pm
This plant has evolved to say, "Do not fuck with my seeds."
spudcon • Mar 30, 2008 4:34 pm
I know, I know, but I couldn't resist.
SPUCK • Mar 31, 2008 4:51 am
I never get how 1/1000000 g of something can kill you! What is that, one atom per 100 million cells??
xoxoxoBruce • Mar 31, 2008 5:39 am
From Wiki
The toxin present in Abrus precatorius is a close relative to ricin called abrin. It is a dimer consisting of two protein subunits, termed A and B. The B chain facillitates abrin's entry into a cell by bonding to certain transport proteins on cell membranes, which then transport the toxin into the cell. Once inside the cell, the A chain prevents protein synthesis by inactivating the 26S subunit of the ribosome. One molecule of abrin will inactivate up to 1,500 ribosomes per second. Symptoms are identical to those of ricin, except that the fatal dose of ricin is approximately 75 times greater than the fatal dose of abrin. Abrin can kill with a circulating amount of less than 3 μg (micrograms).

The seeds of Abrus precatorius are much valued in native jewelry for their bright coloration. The third of the bean with the hilum (attachment scar) is black, while the rest is bright red, suggesting a ladybug. Jewelry-making with jequirity seeds is dangerous, and there have been cases of death by a finger-prick while boring the seeds for beadwork. However, it has long been a symbol of love in China.
Electrophile • Mar 31, 2008 5:59 am
SPUCK;442798 wrote:
I never get how 1/1000000 g of something can kill you! What is that, one atom per 100 million cells??


Assuming 100 trillion cells are in your body, one micrograms of albin is about 500 molecules per cell. And because it's an enzyme, it is not used up when it stops the ribosome. So once inside a cell, one molecule could kill that cell.
Gravdigr • Mar 31, 2008 7:11 am
Yikes.
rupip • Mar 31, 2008 11:05 am
god - allah - zeus - jehova - brahman- evolution ... whathever it is
- she or he or it is definitly the greatest designer ever !

I also love the design of poisonous frogs or snails.
monster • Mar 31, 2008 2:08 pm
It's so cute. I want one.
toranokaze • Mar 31, 2008 2:28 pm
Hallucinogenics frogs are some of the best pets one could have.
Sheldonrs • Mar 31, 2008 3:31 pm
xoxoxoBruce;442806 wrote:
From Wiki


Just what I thought...Love=Death.
BigV • Mar 31, 2008 4:47 pm
xoxoxoBruce;442678 wrote:
Image

Nature's original version of Mr Yuk
Cicero • Mar 31, 2008 5:11 pm
Sheldonrs;442892 wrote:
Just what I thought...Love=Death.


Can you say Bindeez love you long time?
:D
~snip~However, it has long been a symbol of love in China. ~snippy~
monster • Mar 31, 2008 9:11 pm
toranokaze;442872 wrote:
Hallucinogenics frogs are some of the best pets one could have.



Plants make the best pets. Well, maybe after rocks.
SPUCK • Apr 4, 2008 6:46 am
Electrophile;442808 wrote:
Assuming 100 trillion cells are in your body, one micrograms of albin is about 500 molecules per cell. And because it's an enzyme, it is not used up when it stops the ribosome. So once inside a cell, one molecule could kill that cell.


Thanks makes more sense now. Like Flourocarbons in the Ozone layer.

Thanks too Bruce for the poison info.
HungLikeJesus • Apr 4, 2008 10:51 am
SPUCK;443685 wrote:
Thanks makes more sense now. Like Flourocarbons in the Ozone layer.



Flourocarbons in the ozone layer
First the water and the wildlife go
Pretty soon there's not a creature stirring
'Cept the robots at the dynamo

And its worse when i try to remember
When i think about then and now
I'd rather see it on the news at eleven
Sit back and watch it run straight down

Run straight down
Run straight down
I can see it with my eyes closed
Run straight down.
monster • Sep 13, 2009 7:06 pm
monster;442865 wrote:
It's so cute. I want one.


I has an Abrus. I maded it :D
DanaC • Sep 13, 2009 7:26 pm
lol that's fucking brilliant!
monster • Sep 13, 2009 7:30 pm
ty. I am happy.
xoxoxoBruce • Sep 13, 2009 8:57 pm
Looks good, nice job. :thumbsup::thumbsup:
TheMercenary • Sep 13, 2009 10:36 pm
Damm, and I thought this was about French Airplanes that were behind production.
Flint • Sep 13, 2009 10:41 pm
That's very cool, monster. You're like Giger O'Keeffe, all makin' crazy vagina-faced aliens.
jinx • Sep 13, 2009 10:54 pm
Yeah, what flint said...
monster • Sep 13, 2009 10:58 pm
yeah, I wondered how long..... :lol: I noticed the similarity on the first day I worked on it, which frankly made it feel a little weird as I smoothed the edges and formed the "tail" bit.
SPUCK • Sep 14, 2009 3:24 am
Well, all I can say is that isn't like any vagina I've come across..
Clodfobble • Sep 14, 2009 9:14 am
Well SPUCK, maybe that's your problem--it's supposed to be in, not across.
monster • Sep 14, 2009 9:54 am
Say, isn't Spuck a euphemism for a masturabatory ejaculation? that might explain it.

[COLOR="LemonChiffon"](If it isn't it should be... nothing personal against SPUCK the dwellar, it just sounds like a good name for that....)[/COLOR]
spudcon • Sep 14, 2009 9:56 am
I gotta say, that's a great job of photoshopping, but I'm with Spuck. I think vaginas are much cuter than that.
monster • Sep 14, 2009 9:57 am
Photoshopping?
glatt • Sep 14, 2009 10:00 am
monster, that's fantastic! Great job.
monster • Sep 14, 2009 10:02 am
thank you :) I'm still all happy about it, I have it on the wall where I can see it from here :)
Spexxvet • Sep 14, 2009 3:17 pm
monster;594622 wrote:
...the "tail" bit.


That's called the "taint".;)
lumberjim • Sep 14, 2009 3:29 pm
It's ceramic, monster?

do the eyes come out? is it about 5" across?

oh, and what Flint said.
monster • Sep 14, 2009 5:14 pm
It is ceramic. one eye might come out if you tried really hard, but they're built in. but still loose. I posted more details in the ceramics thread, but had to post here too because this IOTD inspired me :) it's more like 12" across.
kerosene • Sep 16, 2009 10:24 am
I love that, monster. Seems like you could use it to serve tortilla chips to guests or something....and then they would look down and realize they were being poisoned!
monster • Sep 16, 2009 11:12 am
thanks :) ...say, 'bout time we saw some more of your stuff on here, eh?
Pico and ME • Sep 16, 2009 12:41 pm
How did you make the eye built-in but still loose?

Fantastic job, btw.
monster • Sep 16, 2009 10:16 pm
I put the eye in, then worked the pod closed around it while the clay way still wet. the eyes were leather-hard by then, the sockets wetter. I had to drill holes in the back of the eyes so they wouldn't explode.
Pie • Sep 16, 2009 10:25 pm
monster;595335 wrote:
I had to drill holes in the back of the eyes so they wouldn't explode.


That's a great line to take out of context. :thumb: Looks great, Monnie!
Shawnee123 • Sep 17, 2009 12:05 am
I'm in awe. That is wonderful! You are so clever.
monster • Sep 17, 2009 7:59 am
Pie;595337 wrote:
That's a great line to take out of context.



yeah i thought so too -tagline maybe? user title. had to shorten it a little, though

thanks all :)