Jaap de Roode: How butterflies self-medicate

The video discusses the ongoing challenge of infectious diseases and how humans have developed drugs and vaccines to combat them. It highlights that animals, including insects, also use natural remedies for self-medication. The focus is on monarch butterflies, which use milkweed to combat parasites. Experiments show that while caterpillars do not choose medicinal plants, adult monarchs lay eggs on them to protect offspring. This discovery suggests that studying animal behavior can lead to new drug discoveries for humans.

In what ways can studying monarch butterflies contribute to drug discovery for humans?

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What role do animals, including insects, play in the search for new medications?

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Discuss the implications of the discovery that small-brained animals can use medication.

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