What is the difference between venom, toxin, and poison

Question

What is the difference between venom, toxin, and poison

Answer 1

When push comes to shove there really is no difference.  For the most part the difference rests in where you might find it or how it is deliverered.  For example being bit by something that carries venom or eating something that is toxic.

http://dictionary.reference.com/

Venom

1. the poisonous fluid that some animals, as certain snakes and spiders, secrete and introduce into the bodies of their victims by biting, stinging, etc.  

2. something resembling or suggesting poison in its effect; spite; malice: the venom of jealousy.  

3. Archaic. poison in general.  

–verb (used with object) 4. Archaic. to make venomous; envenom.  

Toxin:

any poison produced by an organism, characterized by antigenicity in certain animals and high molecular weight, and including the bacterial toxins that are the causative agents of tetanus, diphtheria, etc., and such plant and animal toxins as ricin and snake venom.  

Poison:

1. a substance with an inherent property that tends to destroy life or impair health.  

2. something harmful or pernicious, as to happiness or well-being: the poison of slander.  

3. Slang. any variety of alcoholic liquor: Name your poison!  

–verb (used with object) 4. to administer poison to (a person or animal).  

5. to kill or injure with or as if with poison.  

6. to put poison into or upon; saturate with poison: to poison food.  

7. to ruin, vitiate, or corrupt: Hatred had poisoned his mind.  

8. Chemistry. to destroy or diminish the activity of (a catalyst or enzyme).  

–adjective 9. causing poisoning; poisonous: a poison shrub.  

Answer 2

The definitions are not exact, but generally a toxin is a *biological* agent that impairs or destroys biological functions.  A poison is *ANY* substance that impairs or destroys biological function.  A venom is a substance that impairs or destroys biological function that is injected into the blood stream by some means, usually through a stinger, barb, or fang of an animal.

When talking strictly zoology, I like to define the difference between Poison and Venom as Poison is Absorbed through a membrane, usually from being ingested or inhaled, and venom is injected into the blood stream, and both can be called a toxic substance.

Answer 3

POISON

In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause damage, illness, or death to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism. Legally and in hazardous chemical labelling, poisons are especially toxic substances; less toxic substances are labelled "harmful", "irritant", or not labelled at all.

In medicine (particularly veterinary) and in zoology, a poison is often distinguished from a toxin and a venom. Toxins are poisons produced via some biological function in nature, and venoms are usually defined as biologic toxins that are injected by a bite or sting to cause their effect, while other poisons are generally defined as substances which are absorbed through epithelial linings such as the skin or gut.

TOXIN

A toxin is a poisonous substance produced by living cells or organisms that is active at very low concentrations. Toxins can be small molecules, peptides, or proteins and are capable of causing disease on contact or absorption with body tissues by interacting with biological macromolecules such as enzymes or cellular receptors. Toxins vary greatly in their severity, ranging from usually minor and acute (as in a bee sting) to almost immediately deadly (as in botulinum toxin).

Biotoxins vary greatly in purpose and mechanism, and can be highly complex (the venom of the cone snail contains dozens of small proteins, each targeting a specific nerve channel or receptor), or relatively small protein.

VENOM

Venom is any of a variety of toxins used by certain types of animals, for the purpose of defense and hunting. Generally, venom is injected while poisons are absorbed by ingestion or through the skin.