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Scientists aim for lab-grown meat

Pork cuts could come fresh from the lab
An international research team has proposed new techniques that may lead to the mass production of meat reared not on the farm, but in the laboratory.

Developments in tissue engineering mean that cells taken from animals could be grown directly into meat in a laboratory, the researchers say.

Scientists believe the technology already exists to directly grow processed meat like a chicken nugget.

The technology could benefit both humans and the environment.

"With a single cell, you could theoretically produce the world's annual meat supply. And you could do it in a way that's better for the environment and human health.

"In the long term, this is a very feasible idea," said Jason Matheny of the University of Maryland, part of the team whose research has been published in the Tissue Engineering journal.

Growing the meat without the animal could reduce the need to keep millions of animals in cramped conditions and would lessen the damage caused by the meat production to the environment.

Laboratory-grown meat could also be healthier, proponents say.

Eating 'mush'

Tissue engineering techniques were first developed for medical use and small amounts of edible fish tissue have been grown in research conducted by Nasa.


Concerns have been raised about eating meat from cloned animals.
To industrialise the process, researchers suggest the cells could be grown on large sheets that would need to be stretched to provide the 'exercise' for the growing muscles.

"If you didn't stretch them, it would be like eating mush," said Mr Methany.

Whilst the technology to produce processed meat is here now, producing a steak or chicken breast is still quite a way off, the researchers say.

Questions

The new techniques could also provide a dilemma for vegetarians.

Some may feel able to eat meat that has been grown without an animal being harmed.

Others feel that question marks remain about the way the cells would be taken from animals.

"It won't appeal to someone who gave up meat because they think it's morally wrong to eat flesh or someone who doesn't want to eat anything unnatural," Kerry Bennett of the UK Vegetarian Society told the Guardian newspaper.

How regulators might react is also unclear.

The US Food and Drug Administration has asked companies not to market any products that involve cloned animals until their safety has been evaluated.

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Originally posted by Carolynanna

Speaking of which,
has anyone ever tried Kobe beef?

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Originally posted by floop

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Originally posted by Carolynanna

Speaking of which,
has anyone ever tried Kobe beef?

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i had Kobe beef at this insanely expensive sushi restaurant once (it was my birthday).. i have to admit, it was one of the best things i've ever tasted

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Originally posted by Carolynanna

ITS PEOPLE!!!

__________
Don't believe the hype.

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And wasn't Soylent Green made from humans?

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Originally posted by Llamadance

I think it's a great idea. Don't see why it shouldn't be done, although it will probably lead to a massive reduction in sheep/cows/chickens. We've no idea how it'll taste, it might be fantastic. I expect ethical vegetarians will still snub it, but it would make sense.

And wasn't Soylent Green made from humans?

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No power in the 'verse can stop me

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Originally posted by bishk99

Putting the issues of cloning and genetic modification of foodstuffs aside for a second I have Question for the Vegies on this board.

Do you think you could ever eat manufactured meat knowing that it based on a single animal even if it didn't suffer in the process? Say for example the cells to be cloned in the final product () were taken without harming the animal in any way.

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Originally posted by floop

i think i'd rather become a vegetarian, as sad as it is for me to say that.

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Originally posted by NimrodsSon
In a word, No. Even if it could be done without harming the animals I wouldn't support it. I wouldn't eat it because humans shouldn't eat meat. Regardless of what you believe about animal rights, etc., meat is not something that humans should eat.

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Originally posted by darwin

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Originally posted by NimrodsSon
In a word, No. Even if it could be done without harming the animals I wouldn't support it. I wouldn't eat it because humans shouldn't eat meat. Regardless of what you believe about animal rights, etc., meat is not something that humans should eat.

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How so? We've been eating meat for millions of years. That's why you've got those pointy little teeth in the front. We're omnivores.

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Originally posted by darwin

What is a living enzyme? Enzymes are simply proteins and none of them are 'living'.

{updated, because I think this comes off a little dickish from me}

Is "living enzyme" the theory behind naked foods? That heating breaks up the enzymes and makes them less useful? It seems like a fad to me, but I haven't read any of the books.

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Originally posted by starmekitten

Nimrods Son, complete proteins which are broken down by the body (because we have the pathways to do that) and from which are harvested the essential amino acids which we ourselves cannot produce and are then reformed into proteins we do use.

We're meat eaters, thats what we are. People can chose not to but we're biologically built to consume the stuff.

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You begin saving the world by saving one person at a time; all else is grandiose romanticism or politics

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Originally posted by NimrodsSon
Would it not then be logical to say that the best source of protein is not in the complete proteins (not to mention DEAD proteins, since the atoms that compose the amino acids that compose the complete protein die within minutes after the animal is killed) in flesh foods, but rather the atoms found in all fruits and vegetables which are the building blocks for these amino acids, which are the building blocks for protein.

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Now, to answer Darwin's question about enzymes, enzymes aren't simply proteins, and they are very much ALIVE, that is, until they are heated to 130 degrees faranheight (sp?).

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Enzymes "constitute the life principle in every atom and molecule composing every LIVE organism." Fresh, live enzymes in abundance are the single most important thing that we should be sure to eat.

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Sorry, but I think this new age hoey. Enzymes simply allow reactions to occur with less energy having to be expended. They catalyze reactions.

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Originally posted by darwin
Proteins don't die. They were never alive in the first place. They're just chains of amino acids. And, CERTAINLY atoms don't die. If atoms died (fell apart), we wouldn't have any physical items. My chair would be crumbling beneath me.

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Taken from The Vegetarian Guide to Diet and Salad by Dr. Norman W. Walker, D.Sc.

...in the protein of a live man or animal, the amino acids are the means of such a vast field of activities that no physical function is possible without them in live, vital, organic form.

The importance of VITALITY in the atoms composing the amino acids can best be appreciated by realizing that within 6 minutes after life leaves the body all the atoms in the body cease to be live, organic atoms, and their function and activity consequently comes to a stop. So long as life is present in the body, the live atoms therein have the vital spark of life which enables them to carry on their work.

Atoms are not like animals whose life is apparent and perceived in active animation. Nevertheless, the vital principle wither is, or is not present in an atom. If it is present, that atom is a live organism capable of furnishing vital force and energy. if life is not present in it then the atom is inorganic and as such belongs to the mineral kingdom.

...

The mineral kingdom contains all the atoms composing this world, in inorganic form. Each of these atoms, while in the mineral kingdom state, has certain definitive rates of vibration, but no life-principle is present...

...When the life of vegetation is destroyed by heat, the atoms composing such vegetation automatically revert to the mineral kingdom state, as we cannot have life and death in anything at one and the same time.

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And the proteins in fruits and vegetables also break down. They rot.

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An enzyme is just a type of protein.

A definition of enzyme: Any of numerous proteins or conjugated proteins produced by living organisms and functioning as biochemical catalysts.

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Enzymes "constitute the life principle in every atom and molecule composing every LIVE organism." Fresh, live enzymes in abundance are the single most important thing that we should be sure to eat.

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Constitute the life principle in every atom? That makes no sense to me. Enzymes aren't in atoms or molecules. Sorry, but I think this new age hoey. Enzymes simply allow reactions to occur with less energy having to be expended. They catalyze reactions.

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Natural foods, in their natural raw state contain life in the atoms and molecules composing

them [my italics]. Such atomic LIFE is classified as ENZYMES.

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As Enzymes form the fundemental basis of nutrition, they should have our first consideration in

the choice of our food. Enzymes are not substances which man can create, nor are they capable of being

synthesized for use as supplements for constructive purposes.

Enzymes are the life-principle in every live, organic atom and molecule, whether such atoms compose vegetation or are the atoms and molecules in the constitution of the human and animal bodies.

...

The Enzymes in the body give the spark of activity to every cell and tissue, as well as to their functions, so long as the body is alive. The moment the body dies, the life represented by its Enzymes is dissipated, at which time the atoms and molecules and the cells and tissues composing the anatomy are no longer subject to regeneration and begin to decompose.

Enzymes in your food are the life in the atoms and molecules constituting the food.

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In the course of the voluntary and involuntary activites of the body we expend considerable unconscious energy. This energy is furnished b y the Enzymes in the atoms in the cells and tissues...

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The mysterious operation of our digestive system takes place by virtue of the Enzymes which are present in every live atom and molecule composing the cells and tissues of the body and consequently in all the performances and functions of the human system.

In the constitution of the body there are strange and intricate laboratories in which ultramicroscopic vital substances are generated.... These vital substances are known as hormones which trickle directly into the bloodstream by the process of osmosis.... It is the presence of Enzymes throughout each gland that makes this transfer possible.

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[the importance of live enzymes] is graphically observed when a farmer tries to feed pasteurized milk to a calf.... Calves fed on pasteurized milk have died within six months.

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