Baby pufferfish inherit a nearly non-toxic chemical from their mothers

Anyone remotely familiar with poisonous foods would know about fugu. It is a Japanese delicacy so dangerous that chefs need special training and a licence to prepare it.

One wrong cut could leave traces of tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin.Pufferfish are notorious for carrying this deadly chemical in their bodies, using it as a defence against predators. But it turns out that their survival strategy begins much earlier than adulthood.

A new study has found that mother pufferfish pass on another, almost non-toxic chemical to their offspring, one that can make potential predators spit them out almost as soon as they take a bite.Maybe the real meaning of motherly love is giving your babies a little poison to keep them safe.Background to the studyPufferfish belonging to the genus Takifugu are known for their ability to accumulate tetrodotoxin (TTX), one of the most potent naturally occurring neurotoxins. It interferes with the movement of sodium ions through nerve cells, disrupting the signals that allow nerves and muscles to communicate.