Ricin
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
Ricin is a protein toxin, that is left over as waste from processing castor beans. It is a very stable substance that is not affected by extreme heat or cold weather. Since any amateur can make Ricin it poses a threat from terrorism. Ricin poison is highly unlikely to happen on accident only deliberate actions can make serious exposures.[1]
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Ricin Chains
Ricin A
The A chain acts on the 60S ribosomal subunit and prevents the binding of elongation factor-2. This inhibits protein synthesis and leads to cell death. This basic structure of ricin is similar to those of the botulinum toxin, cholera toxin, diphtheria toxin, tetanus toxin, and insulin.[2]
Ricin B
The B chain holds onto the cell surface glycoprotein’s and affects the entrence into the cell by an unknown mechanism. The ricin B lectin domain is made of of three homologous sub-domains of 40 amino acids (alpha, beta and gamma) and a linker peptide of aproximatly 15 residues (lambda). It has been announced that the ricin B lectin domain came to be about by gene triplication from primitive of 40 residue galactoside-binding peptide. PUBMED:3561502, and PUBMED:1881882.[3]
Castor Plant
The Castor Bean Plant is a member of the Spurge family of plants Euphorbiaceous. The plant only grows in Africa and can grow up to 40 feet tall. The plant does not have pedals to attract bees for pollination so it relies on the wind for pollination. The seed is 50% castor oil and the oil is mostly ricinoleic acid. Evidence shows that ancient Egypt used the oil as a medicine curing only general sicknesses such as the common cold.[4]
Hazards
Indigestion
Within a short while after indigestion you will experience the following: abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and damage to major organs
Inhalation
If Ricin is inhaled a person may suffer weakness, fever, nausea, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), cough, and or pulmonary edema arthralgia (pain in the joints). If lethal dose is inhaled you will experience death.
The military has developed vaccines for Both Ricin A and B. [5]
Military Uses
Right after WWI the United states has sought out the potential of Ricin. At that period in time it was usesed either as a toxic dust or as a coating for bullets and shrapnel. During WWII the U.S started makink Ricin cluster bombs. Since Ricin's toxicity (LCt50 ~40 mg·min/m3) it makes it very deadly. Ricin soon was given the military symbol W or later known as WA. But this program was shortly dropped for another program to weaponize sarin.[6]
Terrorist Threat
Ricin proves to be a very serious terrorist threat for it is easy to produce (Since it is the waste left over from the external liquid). Ricin is much easier to produce than Anthrax It also proves to be hard or impossible to detect.[7] Also a month after9/11 letter bombs contain the Ricin poison were sent out to U.S congressmen. None were affected but it is well aware now that Ricin may come in different forms. Most Ricin terrorist groups originated from Al-Qaeda.[8]
Ricin Incidents
1978 Assination
On 7 September 1978 the Bulgarian incedent Georgi Markov was stabbed in the leg in public on the Waterloo Bridge in the middle of London by a man using a weapon built into an umbrella. It was found later that a small pellet cotaining ricin was found in his leg.[9]
2003 Arrest
On 5 January 2003 the Metropolitan Police raided a flat in north London and arrested six Algerian men whom they claimed were manufacturing ricin as part of a plot for a poison attack on the London Underground. It was expected that this was a hoax for no Ricin was found.
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References
- National Terror Alart Frequently asked Questions
- Emedicine Emed by MD
- HHMI janilia farm
- PLANT OF THE WEEK Dr. T. Ombrello - UCC Biology Department
- Dc military by Karen Fleming-Michael
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