Did Lethal Toxins Kill the Dinosaurs?
In Did Lethal Toxins Kill the Dinosaurs?, naturalist Steve Backshall discusses an extremely deadly toxin, Clostridium botulinum, that was likely responsible for the deaths of many dinosaurs millions of years ago. Even the smallest imaginable airborne particle of this toxin could have been devastating to a dinosaur. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Deadly Dinosaurs, a documentary series in which host Steve Backshall is on the hunt for the deadliest animals to have walked the Earth — dinosaurs — exploring features of several species and putting their abilities to the test to reveal the raw power of these creatures.
Lesson Express
Q: What’s a HAZMAT suit?
A: It’s a biohazard suit that protects a person from being exposed to dangerous microorganisms, tiny particles that can make someone sick.
Q: How much of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum can cause disease?
A: Just two-billionths of a gram of this bacteria can be deadly. For reference, a small paper clip weighs 1 gram, so try to think of two-billionths of that.
Q: How could a dinosaur spread this disease caused by such a tiny bacteria?
A: When a dinosaur died from the disease, its carcass could become food for other dinosaurs. Those that fed on the infected remains would get sick, and the cycle could continue as more animals fed on the diseased carcasses.
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