The colorful Blue Crab found in Wilmington, NC.

Blue Crab Research

Dr. Richard Dillaman, Biology and Marine Biology, has studied the formation of the arthodial membrane in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus.

Dr. Robert Roer, Biology and Marine Biology faculty and Dean of the Graduate School, is studying how blue crabs control the onset of mineralization of their exoskeletons after they molt.

Dr. Thomas Shafer, Biology and Marine Biology, is known for his research that centers around analyzing proteins and glycoproteins extracted from the cuticles of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) and cloning and sequencing the genes that code for them.