News Copy Crab: DNA confirms that crab forms have several origins By John Pickrell February 27, 2002 at 1:40 pm - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print New genetic evidence suggests that crabs aren’t all close relatives and their characteristic shape evolved independently on numerous occasions. SPITTING IMAGE. True crab (above) bears a striking resemblance to its distant relative, an Alaskan king crab (below). Cunningham Cunningham Most crabs share such a similar overall shape that they might seem to have come from the same evolutionary origin.