The presence of a “lizard” associated with the development of modern medicines — and popularly linked to Ozempic — stirred social media this Sunday (16), during the second day of the Enem (National High School Exam).
The biology question mentioned the species, typical of the deserts of North America, and quickly went viral due to the curiosity surrounding its relationship with substances used in diabetes treatments.
Professors highlight, however, that the question was much simpler than the repercussion suggests: all the candidate had to do was recognize that the habitat of this lizard is similar to the dry climate of the Brazilian caatinga.
Flávio Landim, biology teacher on the Professor Ferretto platform, explained that it appeared in the credit of the question’s base text, which led many students to believe that they should know details about the medicine.
In practice, it was not necessary. “The student did not need to know anything about the medicine, as the objective was just to identify the Brazilian biome similar to the desert habitat of the Gila monster.”
The repercussion, however, occurred because this lizard has a toxin called exendin-4, a substance that imitates the action of the human hormone GLP-1, responsible for stimulating the release of insulin.
Landim explained that this natural molecule inspired the development of exenatide, used to treat type 2 diabetes.
“Exenatide is a laboratory-synthesized form of exendin-4. It is not Ozempic, but it acts in a similar way,” he stated. He also highlighted that Ozempic (semaglutide) is “completely synthetic and a more modern version of the drug”.
Different biomes
Enem’s question, however, did not cover any of these biochemical concepts. Professor Gabriella Leal, from Colégio e Sistema pH, reinforced that “it was just to compare the desert biome with the caatinga”.
“It didn’t talk about the mechanism of Ozempic, and any interpretation about medications was irrelevant to the resolution.”
The Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum), native to arid regions of the southern United States and northern Mexico, has a rarely lethal but biologically fascinating venom.
Studies indicate that its habitat could be drastically reduced in the coming decades due to climate change — a fact that has gained space in the international press and reinforces scientific interest in the species.
Live CNN and answer key for the 2nd day
CNN Brasil will air this Sunday (16), starting at 8pm, with the unofficial correction of the tests carried out by biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics teachers from the Objective.
Those of the tests of natural sciences e mathematics, developed by SAS Education, will also be available on site da CNN after the end of the Enem application.
