Usually, news of a mutant species that can clone itself would freak everyone out. But the internet responded with optimism and excitement to a study released Monday in Nature that said the marbled crayfish, which didn’t exist until 25 years ago, was popping up in large numbers around the world. The marbled crayfish is a unique species; because of a mutation, it can clone itself. The clones it reproduces are all female.
Carl Zimmer’s New York Times report on the study was widely shared in a popular tweet about the all-female crayfish:
This is WILD. A single mutation 25 years ago created an all-female species of crayfish that reproduces asexually in huge numbers, and they are literally taking over the world: https://t.co/znx6rsFIXp
— Laurie Voss (@seldo) February 6, 2018
The report inspired tweets welcoming our future female crayfish “overlords.”
I for one welcome our new female crawfish overlords https://t.co/C6CVAAlaiY
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 6, 2018
I for one welcome our asexual female crayfish overlords https://t.co/kqzlerRoP8
— Elle Has Cats (and ADHD) (@ellle_em) February 6, 2018
And cheers for mutant females.
https://twitter.com/CherylMorgan/status/960791494037778432
https://twitter.com/jpbrammer/status/960900146916724736
A couple of people made jokes that referenced Beyoncé songs.
https://twitter.com/bookie_bee/status/960949723929677824
all the single craydies https://t.co/cYaUPvaeRq
— Premee Mohamed (@premeesaurus) February 6, 2018
The mutant crayfish really gave people hope for the future.
Misandrist crayfish give me hope 🙏🏽 https://t.co/O3DvaKbUuR
— Audre II 🪴 (@grapecranberry) February 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/dvntae/status/960902858685255680
Honestly this is the best end of the world scenario so far all hail our Arthropod Empresses https://t.co/xWHbFmeO3g
— Abbys Mad at the Government (@a_bi_gal) February 6, 2018
if this is what it's gonna take to close the pay gap then so be it. https://t.co/bBEhX8Trfp
— Hend Amry (@LibyaLiberty) February 6, 2018
ID LIKE TO PLAY THE LEAD CRAYFISH IN THE MOVIE (OR HER BEST FRIEND WATEVER) https://t.co/DXkFw5Z9O0
— Chelsea Peretti (@chelseaperetti) February 6, 2018
And human women wondered how we could clone females like the marbled crayfish.
https://twitter.com/Redpainter1/status/960896246100758528
https://twitter.com/sanaali_/status/960926059272261633
https://twitter.com/glosswitch/status/960933703420665858
You’re probably still wondering how these mutant crayfish have thrived. According to the Times, “about 1 in 10,000 species comprise cloning females. Many studies suggest that sex-free species are rare because they don’t last long.”
So far, the marbled crayfish have lasted only a couple of decades. Scientists are monitoring how long this species will survive. Maybe the crayfish will survive long enough to briefly take over the world—or at least inspire a sci-fi film about it.