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The Original Flavour (mander.xyz)

submitted 2 weeks ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] Infamousblt@hexbear.net 18 points 2 weeks ago

They do have one flaw and that's their blood being so valuable to humans.

Although perhaps that means humans will ensure their survival. So maybe even that is an evolutionary advantage

[-] underisk@hexbear.net 11 points 2 weeks ago

There’s been some buzz lately about a synthetic replacement for horseshoe crab blood. Once again outlasting a threat to their species while changing absolutely nothing.

[-] Wbear@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 weeks ago

I feel like I've heard of this, but it's bonkers. What is their blood used for again?

[-] pemptago@lemmy.ml 9 points 2 weeks ago

I couldn't wait for the answer

In the 1960s, scientists discovered that the sky blue blood inside horseshoe crabs would clot when it detected bacterial toxins. Vaccines, drugs and medical devices have to be sterile before they're put inside people. A better toxin-detection system meant less contamination risk for patients

source (Trigger Warning: Begins with a photo of the blood collection many could find disturbing)