Casper, a one-in-100-million white lobster, has joined a University of New England study in Biddeford, Maine, examining why American lobsters develop rare shell colors. Donated by the Maine State Aquarium, he will be studied using non-invasive genetic methods.
Launched in 2024, the project collects and analyzes genetic material without harming the lobsters. Researchers are examining gene-expression differences and analyzing more than 15,000 genes from young lobsters for differences associated with shell color.
Casper is UNE's only white lobster. The collection also includes Peaches, an orange lobster UNE says occurs once in 30 million and has had offspring of different colors, as well as blue and purple cousins Currant and Fig.
