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shrimp is bugs (mander.xyz)

submitted 6 months ago by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] ThoGot@lemm.ee 8 points 6 months ago

If you're allergic to shellfish, there's a high chance that you're also allergic to insects

[-] And009@lemmynsfw.com -4 points 6 months ago

I'm allergic to the shit of bull

[-] Timecircleline@sh.itjust.works 6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I'm legitimately curious- why do you think the above claim is bullshit? To me, the fact that both shellfish and insect carapaces are made of chitin makes it seem reasonable that they would trigger similar allergic reactions, but I wonder if that's not the case?

Edit: I looked it up, it's a protein called tropomyosin and it is carried by some crickets, along with other bugs like cockroaches.

I found an article here

[-] And009@lemmynsfw.com 3 points 6 months ago

Oh sorry. Non native speaker here and learned a new phrase. I'm sure the chitin could have a protein structure causing allergic reactions to those who never got exposed to it when they were young

[-] Timecircleline@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago

No worries! I figured out its not chitin- who knew that mushrooms had that too??

I thought you were saying you didn't believe that there can be shared allergies between shellfish and insects, to which my brain said "wait, they're made of the same thing". For your reference, English speakers "call bullshit" on one another when they think someone is lying, hence my curiousity.