FDA approves cloned meat! (virtual, choice, convention, diseases)

[Hacker]

Originally Posted by dawny0826

Exactly.

And in truth, the thought of eating something clones kind of gives me the creeps.

I guess my pondering of vegetarianism is finally coming to a conclusion.

Organic is always a good route to go though.

[dawny0826]

Originally Posted by tlcmel

I guess my pondering of vegetarianism is finally coming to a conclusion.

There's a chance (okay, it's slight but it's there) I could be following closely behind you.

[Ozzie]

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

It runs the risk of destroying large portions of the food supply since such a practice, if adopted throughout an industry, would greatly reduce the genetic diversity in the populations of animals raised for food and increase the potential damage from diseases.

Reducing the genetic diversity within a closed farming system may not matter. What I find interesting is that this is the antithesis of GM intervention to produce quality meat. Taking advantage of naturally occurring excellence and cloning it seems logical. But I would not eat it any more than I would touch GM meat if I can help it. I have more confidence that nature will in general produce a fit product than cloning when it is such a hit and miss affair to know what exactly is in the stuff we pick up at the supermarket. Variant Kreuzfeld -Jacob is a result of meddling with natural alimentary processes in cows. Cloning might cut the cow out of the equation in introducing some other nasty into the human foodchain with unpleasant symptoms.

Oz

[Seyorni]

I'm waiting for the technology to insert genes for various muscle and organ tissues into fruit trees or vines. Our meats could be grown in orchards or fields without mistreating actual sentient animals.
We could also tweak the chemical composition to produce flavors far superior to meat on the hoof, inasmuch as the constraints of maintaining a viable physiology would be eliminated.

[equus somnium]

First of all, I don't agree with cloning at all. It's wrong and unecessary. And second of all, why do we need cloning for food? Animal and plant supplies aren't short. I would definately not eat anything that was cloned. And I hope to God it doesn't increase the government approval of human cloning. Animals and plants are bad enough. I think once we knew it could be done it needed to stop there.

[Terrywoodenpic]

Originally Posted by equus somnium

First of all, why do we need cloning for food? Animal and plant supplies aren't short.

The reason it is done is to produce a more cost effective product.
They chose to clone an "Ideal animal"
Fast to mature
Low fat ratio
well developed premium parts" legs, breast, rump etc.
High food conversion rate " low feed to product ratio"
High resistance to disease's found in growing conditions.
Low space exercise requirements.

In other words they chose an animal on factory style specifications.
This allows them to minimise costs and maximise profits.
with pre determined costs and high market specification.

Do I like the Idea?.... no I hate it.

It could also cause sales resistance and even banning from the more ethical markets.
If there was no labeling and product tracking, this banning would also effect non cloned product.

[Jaymes]

Originally Posted by Seyorni

I'm waiting for the technology to insert genes for various muscle and organ tissues into fruit trees or vines. Our meats could be grown in orchards or fields without mistreating actual sentient animals.
We could also tweak the chemical composition to produce flavors far superior to meat on the hoof, inasmuch as the constraints of maintaining a viable physiology would be eliminated.

We can already grow meat in-vitro, it's just a matter of advancing technology to make it cheap enough.

[equus somnium]

The reason it is done is to produce a more cost effective product.

I would think it would cost more to clone an animal than to slaughter it.