‘Super shrimp’ may prevent a disease that affects millions

Could single-sex prawns serve the triple goal of alleviating poverty, protecting the environment and reducing disease? A monosex prawn bred by Ben-Gurion University’s Prof. Amir Sagiand his PhD student Tom Levy could make the winning trifecta possible. In a groundbreaking study published in Scientific Reports, a research group headed by Sagi outlines the development of male Macrobrachium rosenbergii prawns with two female sex chromosomes and no male sex chromosome — a so-called “super shrimp” that produces only female offspring. The all-female prawns were developed without the use of hormones or genetic modifications with the help the R&D team of Enzootic, an Israeli company specializing in all-female monosex aquaculture biotechnologies. The scientists say the super shrimp could increase aquaculture yields – a major source of income in some developing countries — and help prevent the spread of water-bound parasites.