Viper

Back in 2011, I found a snake whose venom became the drug captopril. Only recently did I find out another snake, the southeastern pygmy rattlesnake has a venom peptide that acts as an anticoagulant. To physicians, this molecule is known as eptifibatide, and it's commonly used in the treatment of heart attacks. For whatever reason, I've always had a fascination for the unique inventions of nature, and it astounds me that a drug that we use to save lives, which costs thousands of dollars, is made by snakes to kill. It's a weird and awe-inspiring thought.