The first crayfish genome is done, and it’s Marmorkrebs!
I normally don’t cover pre-prints in the blog, preferring to wait until the final, paginated version is out. But the pre-print for the Marmorkrebs genome by Gutekunst and colleagues is attracting international attention from journalists, and its Altmetric score is climbing fast. This post will collect news articles related to this paper.
I’ve been waiting the better part of a decade for this. After blogging about this in 2009, I’ve complained about the lack of a crayfish genome for years (2011, 2012, 2015, and 2016 at least). The portal for the genome is here.
This paper also provides the second major snapshot of the spread of Marmorkrebs in Madagascar. While previous papers showed it was in many places around the capital, this one shows just how far Marmorkrebs has spread.
5 February 2018
Invasion of the clones – Frank Lyko, Nature Ecology and Evolution “Behind the paper” blog post
A clonal crayfish from nature as a model for tumors – EurekAlert press release
An aquarium accident may have given this crayfish the DNA to take over the world – Elisabeth Pennisi, Science (duplicated, with different byline, here)
A pet crayfish can clone itself, and it’s spreading around the world - Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic (reprinted “‘We’re being invaded by an army of clones’; Plot twist: They’re crawfish” with “Advocate staff” byline in The Advocate)
This mutant crayfish clones itself, and it’s taking over Europe – Carl Zimmer, The New York Times (reprinted in the Toronto Star, Pittsbugh Post-Gazette, Deccan Herald)
Cloned crayfish conquers the world – Stephen Fleischfresser, Cosmos
Attack of the clones: Creature that started as pet now multiplying out of control
– Kristin Hugo, Newsweek
Marmorkrebs-Klone übernahmen Madagaskar in nur einem Jahrzehnt (Marble crayfish clones took over Madagascar in just a decade) – Jan Osterkamp, Spektrum der Wissenschaft
Marmorkrebse: Weltweite Ausbreitung durch Klone (Marble crayfish: Worldwide spread by clones) – Pharmazeitische Zeitung
Invasion der Krebsklone (Invasion of the crayfish clones) – ORF.at
Crayfish evolved from pet to pest - Nature Asia blog
A species of crayfish has the ability to clone itself – Jonathan Kesh, Outer Places
Marmorkrebs: Eine Klon-Armee dient der Krebsforschung – BR
6 February 2018
Mutant crayfish learned to clone itself in a German pet store and is now taking over Europe – Immanuel Jotham, International Business Times
Mutant crayfish invading the world originates from 1 single female – RT
Significant Digits For Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018 – Walt Hickey, Five Thirty Eight
Growing population of crayfish has one female ancestor Sarah Gibbens, National Geographic
Female mutant crayfish that can CLONE themselves are multiplying out of control and taking over parts of Europe and Africa – Cecile Borkhataria, The Daily Mail
Real life crayfish are born pregnant just like fictional Star Trek Tribbles – Brian Wang, Next Big Future
Geneticists unravel secrets of super-invasive crayfish – Ewan Callaway, Scientific American
The mutant, all-female crayfish that reproduce by cloning themselves – Natasha Frost, Atlas Obscura
Massive crayfish that didn’t exist 25 years ago are capable of cloning themselves — and it's terrifying scientists – Ashley Lutz, Business Insider (also Business Insider Nordic and Science Alert)
This little crayfish could take over the world – Noel Kirkpatrick, Earth Matters
Scientists say marbled crayfish have the DNA to take over the world – OutdoorHub
Mutant crayfish goes from zero to teeming in 25 years: video – Janet Pickel, PennLive
A mutant species of crayfish that reproduces asexually is taking over Europe – seriously! – Aaron Homer, The Inquisitr
Cloned pet crayfish self-spawning out of control – Clyde Hughes, Newsmax
These all-female, asexually reproducing mutant crayfish are the future liberals want – Julia Reinstein, BuzzFeed News (URL hints at original title: “Bring on the craytriarchy”)
Mutant, self-cloning crayfish are our new feminist #goals – Heather Schwedel, Slate
‘Cloverfield’ crayfish created a new species of self-replicating female mutants – Jamie Seidel, News.com.au (also at Fox News, New York Post, Springfield Daily Record, and NT News)
Mutant crayfish got rid of males, and its clones are taking over the world – John Timmer, Ars Technica (reprinted at SogoTech News)
‘They're coming!’: Mutant all-female crayfish are cloning themselves at an incredible rate - Wolfgang Stein interview, As It Happens
Marbled crayfish that can clone themselves originated from one mutant ancestor – Allan Adamson, Tech Times
A invasão dos clones: espécie mutante de lagostim se espalha pelo mundo – Sergio Matsuura, O Globo
Kreeft geeft wellicht meer zicht op kanker – Willen Schoonen, De Morgen
Georgia crawfish mutates into new species, takes over Europe – Christopher Buchanan, WXIA Atlanta
Mutant female crawfish invade Europe: report – Todd Price, NOLA.org
This self-cloning crawfish is invading Europe, report says – Jacqueline Quynh, Kevin Dupuy, WWL TV
7 February 2018
All-female crayfish species that didn’t exist 30 years ago reproduces by cloning itself – BT
Voracious mutant female crayfish clone themselves, taking over world – Newshub
Il gambero che si clona e va alla conquista del mondo (The shrimp that clones and goes to conquer the world) – Focus
自分自身のクローンを作り出して爆発的に増殖していくザリガニ (Crayfish that grow their own clones and grow explosively) – LiveDoor news
All-female mutant crayfish that clone themselves are taking over rivers and lakes around world - Josh Gabbatiss, The Independent
Mutant, all-female crayfish spreading rapidly through Europe can clone itself – Patrick Barkham, The Guardian (also at Gulf News Europe)
Shell shock: why crayfish replicants are taking over – The Guardian
All-female crayfish species that didn’t exist 30 years ago reproduces by cloning itself – Aberdeen Evening Express
A mutant crayfish is cloning itself – Vadim Caraiman, Health Thoroughfare
Texas Standard: February 7, 2018 (mp3 file) - Zen Faulkes interview (starting at 25:44), Texas Standard, National Public Radio
Cloned Crayfish – Or Is It Crawfish – Could Be Coming To Texas Waters – Michael Marks, KUT (based on Texas Standard interview above)
Could the process that has apparently caused natural parthenogenesis in marbled crayfish be applied to cause parthenogenesis in humans? – Quora question
What do you think about the marble crayfish’s “cloning” ability? – Quora question
Marmorkrebs - Resistente Keime - Wasserstoffautos - Handyklau - WDR 5 Leonardo - Wissenschaft und mehr (mp3 file) – Science on Player FM (podcast)
Who needs a man? All-female mutant crayfish taking over the world, scientists say – Fira Pizani, Atlanta Journal-Constitution (also at Palm Beach Post and Austin American-Statesman)
New ‘mutant’ crayfish species is entirely female and don’t need no man – Mike Wehner, BGR
25 years ago, a mutant American crayfish turned to asexual reproduction, and all of Europe's lakes are filling up with its clones – Boing Boing
Who needs a man, anyway? These mutant crayfish sure don't – Kyle Fitzpatrick, Popsugar
The attack of the mutant crayfish – Bill Colley, KLIX
All-female crayfish in Europe can clone itself – Jose Vanhorne, Intelligencer
Marbled crayfish that can clone themselves originated from one mutant ancestor – Brinkwire
Die „Tausend Töchter“ des Klon-Krebses und wie sie der Krebsforschung helfen (The "thousand daughters" of clone crayfish and how they help cancer research) – Sibylle Kohlstädt, Labor Praxis
8 February 2018
Crayfish clones – Kerri Smith and Adam Levy, Nature Podcast segment
If a crayfish didn't exist 25 years ago, how did it come into being? – Quora question
Marbled crayfish population explosion result of self cloning - Joanna Lentini, Dive Photo Guide
Crayfish shocked scientists by cloning itself – Netral English
A “parthenogenetic” crayfish reproduces without sex: is it a new species? – Jerry Coyne, Why Evolution is True blog
Marbled Crayfish Population Explosion Result of Self Cloning – Viral News
Invasive new species of crayfish are cloning themselves – Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com
Cloning In nature: All marbled crayfish clones of one individual female – Cetus News
Scientists track spread of invasive crawfish – Undercurrent News
Food for dirty thoughts: Sexual-fetish expert tantalizes with tales from her trade on BPR – Moses Jefferson, Brooklyn Paper Record podcast (seriously, there is discussion of marbled crayfish in there)
Crayfish that clones itself could be used as model for cancer research – Lauren Scrudato, Laboratory Equipment
Mutant clones of Georgia crawfish besiege planet – George Mathis, Atlanta Journal Constitution “News to Me” blog
Self-cloning mutant crayfish are taking over Europe, but really no big deal – Jeff Vrabel, Golf Digest
Mutant crayfish can clone itself and they are all females – Salve Juris, Kicker Daily News
9 February 2018
This crayfish has mutated into a super-gross tribble nightmare – Beth Elderkin, io9
The asexual clonal crayfish that could teach us about tumor development &ndash Alayna Hansen, New Atlas
Crayfish clone invasion – Genome Web
ICYMI: Sex lives of crayfish, CO2 Is “the gas of life,” & more – Paul Rauber, Sierra Club
I’m just a misunderstood marbled crayfish (overlord) who is certainly not planning world domination – Josh Sippie, McSweeney’s
All-female crayfish in Europe can clone itself – Duta
The genetic mystery of the invasive crayfish clones – Science Friday (downloadable podcast)
10-12 February 2018
Female mutant crayfish clones have landed, but government recommends you not buy one – Catherine Tunney, CBC
Feminine mutant crayfish clones have landed, however authorities recommends you not purchase one – Staff, Luxora Leader
Weird species of crayfish has mutated to the point they can clone themselves – Stewart Perrie, LAD Bible
Thumbs up, thumbs down – Houston Chronicle blog
is it a shrimp? is it a prawn? no - it's super crayfish! – Alison Campbell, Bio Blog
Incredible species of crayfish are able to clone themselves – Dollar Viral
Q&A: Will mutant crayfish impact future of crawfish? – Leigh Frillici, KPRC
11 of our best weekend reads – Kaly Soto, The New York Times
Evolution caught in the act: a Darwin Day sampler pack – Stephanie Savage, Miracle Girl blog
Crayfish can clone themselves and might take over the world – Jessica Goddard, BrainJet
This new species can clone itself by the thousands — and could help scientists understand cancer – Travis Gettys, Raw Story
Attack of the (crustacean) clones – Abby Bigler, The Quad
Self-cloning marbled crayfish spreading across the world – The Week
New crayfish that doesn't need males to mate becomes all-powerful – BBC
Mutant all-female crayfish prompt invasive species fears – Deutsche Welle
The crayfish ditches reproduction, turns to cloning (study) – Jose Buttner, Regal Tribune
Mutant female crayfish can breed alone and multiply at alarming rate – Sean Morrison, Evening Standard
Mutant crayfish alarms experts around the world – Dan Taylor, Morning Ticker (also at
Build a Better World News)
12 February 2018
Self-cloning marbled crayfish spreading across the world – Rebecca Gillie, MSN News
Attack of the clones: animal parthenogenesis – mountainwashere, Steemit
Crayfish Spiders Bees Grouse and Ungulates – Hurst and Carol, Creature Feature blog
14 February 2018
Klonende kreeft kan kankeronderzoekers inspireren (Cloning crayfish can inspire cancer researchers) – Gemma Venhuizen, NRC Handelsblad
These asexual animals don’t need love on Valentine’s Day (or any day) – Ryan F. Mandelbaum, Gizmodo
Self-reproducing crayfish species threatens ecosystems around the world – Jerry Xia, IR Insider
15 February 2018
Lang’s World: Ten Pearls of Whitaker’s wit and wisdom on sports and beyond 2.15.18 – Lang Whitaker, Grind City Media / Memphis Grizzlies
16 February 2018
Is the new species, Marmorkrebs, resulting from a crayfish genetic mutation an invasive new species or an evolutionary change? What are the benefits asexual cloning similar to tribbles on the legendary Star Trek episode? – Quora question
19 February 2018
The crisis with crayfish – Lobsters that breed like Star Trek’s tribbles are conquering Europe – Michael Rosch, Adventures in Poor Taste
22 February 2018
News of the Weird: Feb. 22, 2018 – Editors at Andrews McNeel Syndication, Shepard Express
News of the Weird: A Valentine's Divorce – Editors at Andrews McNeel Syndication, Creative Loafing
1 March 2018
God’s natural cloning – Anonymous, Does God Exist? Today blog
3 March 2018
SoT 287: An Army of Clones – Ed Brown, Dr. Shayne Joseph, Penny Dumsday, Lucas Randall, Science on Top (podcast); starts 12:34
6 March 2018
Creationists and crayfish – Raymond Ramirez, The Observer (student newspaper)
Mutant strain of crayfish damages wetlands – Harold Allison, Washington Times Herald
9 March 2018
The wider debate about workplaces gives facilities managers a chance to crack the code – Mark Eltringham, Insight
Tribbles and crayfish – William V. Raszka, AAP Journals blog
21 March 2018
Meet the mutant, self-cloning crayfish that has scientists scratching their heads — Benjamin Pineros, Techly
Mutant fish that CLONES itself and is taking over rivers worldwide leaves experts baffled – Rachel O'Donoghue, Daily Star
22 March 2018
More and more marbled crayfish – Anonymous, World Book Behind the Headlines (blog)
25 March 2018
Untitled ("Crayfish apocalypse") – Wiley, Non Sequiter (comic)
30 March 2018
The end of male usefulness – Mike Cox, The Columbia Star
1 April 2018
Mutant crayfish that clones itself may help unlock cancer secrets – Anonymous, Aseanews
1 May 2018
Pinpointing the origin of marbled crayfish clones – Diana Kwon, The Scientist
12 September 2018
Decoding the mutant, all-female, self-cloning crayfish – Kevin Bersett, News Illinois State University
Related posts
Olivia’s fantasy genomes
External links
The genome portal for the marbled crayfish
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