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May 2, 2008

Strange But True!

Q. Athletes spit incessantly, dental patients spit on command, petulant protesters spit to make a statement, lovers may exchange saliva in the heat of things. Aside from envelope licking, what's saliva pragmatically good for?

A. As a watery substance, it helps lubricate our wagging tongues, inhibits the growth of bacteria and aids digestion, says David T. Wong in American Scientist magazine. Yet the biomedical community has been slow to recognize the telltale nature of saliva regarding the body. Like blood, it contains many genetically encoded proteins and RNA molecules. Several abnormal conditions can be pinpointed in expectorant, which is easier and cheaper to collect than blood and doesn't expose health-care workers to blood-borne diseases.


 
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