Blue-Blooded

© 2019 Pam Ferris-Olson

The blood of horseshoe crabs is highly valued in medicine. The blood contains a substance known as hemocyanin which is responsible for the blood's blue color. Horseshoe crab blood is used in medical tests to identify toxins.

In Blue-Blooded, a multitude of horseshoe crabs act as blood donors. Hundreds of thousands of horseshoe crabs are collected annually and drained of up to 30 percent of their blood. The trauma of collection and handling results in crab mortality. A synthetic alternative may eventually end the practice of harvesting the sea creatures for their blood.