The Economics of Everyday Things 28. Horseshoe Crab Blood
Dec 11, 2023
Explore the long history and remarkable resilience of horseshoe crabs, their vital role in pharmaceutical testing, and the ethical concerns surrounding the valuable horseshoe crab blood. Discover the fascinating world of horseshoe crabs and their significance to humans, from their unique characteristics to their role in testing for endotoxins in the pharmaceutical industry. Dive into the use of horseshoe crab blood in laboratories to test substances for clot formation, ensuring the safety of medical devices and vaccines. Discuss the decline in horseshoe crab population and its potential consequences on other species. Learn about the development of synthetic alternatives to horseshoe crab blood for medical testing and the reluctance of companies to adopt these alternatives.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Horseshoe Crab Resilience
- Horseshoe crabs have existed for 450 million years, predating dinosaurs.
- They survived a mass extinction event that eliminated 90% of life on Earth.
Human Interest in Horseshoe Crab Blood
- Humans are now harvesting horseshoe crab blood, a valuable commodity in medicine.
- Their blood is worth $60,000 a gallon, creating ethical debates.
Early Uses of Horseshoe Crabs
- Horseshoe crabs were initially used as fertilizer and chicken feed in the 19th century.
- Later, fishermen used them as bait for catching eels.