Lab-Grown Steak

swight1701 writes "New Scientist has an article about several researches who are trying to perfect growing seafood, chicken and beef in the lab without the animal. NASA started the program by wanting to provide burgers for Mars astronauts, and researchers hope to look to McDonalds, et al as funding sources in the future. The biggest problems being nutrient delivery to thick meat and exercise for the sedentary slabs. Processed meats seem to be something that may be a reality soon, while your animal friendly filet mignon may take a little while."

Comments

Re:Is it cosher? Is it lenten?

[shmert]

Since this is still going to be derived from animal meat, I'd say this would fall into the 'meat' category as far as the laws of kashrut apply. However, there could be a little grey area there, if the animal were not actually seriously harmed to produce the food, then it would seem to fall more into the 'milk' category.

The origin of the kosher guidelines stem from the old testament phrase (roughly): do not boil the calf in its mother's milk. Which is more about respect for the humane treatment of animals than for any bizarre reaction between meat and milk.

If you could grow animal protein from an animal biopsy, I don't see the problem with grilling up a cheeseburger out of it. But religious laws are usually not that flexible or sensible.

Not true about human steak

[burgburgburg]

Human protein is not better for consumption. It is in fact worse. Carnivore and omnivore proteins are of a different nature then herbivore proteins. The human digestive system is not designed to break them down and use them efficiently. It in fact takes more energy to break them down to their base constituents and rebuild them then is gained from the eating. That is why eating dog and snake are considered good "winter" foods in some Asian cultures. The extreme amounts of energy required to break them down warms the body. The fact that they're a drain isn't as well known.

By the way, I don't have any first-hand gustatory experience with any of the above.

Re:Expensive pant load!

[DuckDodgers]

I just want to throw in my two cents with everyone else here...

Infants diapers start to stink because of the bacteria that take residence in the lower digestive tract. My younger siblings and I had a diet of breast milk and Gerber veggies until about 11 months. I remember vividly that my little brother's diapers started reeking to high heaven long before he ate meat.

And I can't speak for rice, but lentils are a legume, aren't they? I don't know any legumes that don't cause plentiful and noxious flatulence.

Re:Expensive pant load!

[kapital]

Those of you who remember how the diaper smell went from interestingly aromatic to puke-inducing as soon as the baby started to eat meat

what a lie.

i used to work across from a vegetarian in a very spacious office. he used to eat his oh so healthy veggie lunch real quickly and then sit there and watch an episode of far scape and fart. i will tell you there was nothing sweet about it.

he wasn't so bad in the mornings (maybe because he didn't eat beans and tofu for breakfast), but once lunch came and went he was like pig-pen from peanuts all day long! you could tell if the guy had been in a room because you could still detect a hint of what we used to call his "aura" about 1/2 hour later.

sorry for the post, but i just couldn't stand to let that comment go down.

Re:Expensive pant load!

[Red Weasel]

As a side note to the whole "just be a vegetarian" argument that I've heard forever, I would like to point out the number of people that are allergic to many of the "Vegetarian" diets that are out there to one degree or another.

My wife for example is allergic to soy (and some other stuff but soy is the Biggie). Guess what? No veggie burgers, no soy sauce or marinades. As someone who actually likes some veggie dishes this seriously cuts down on our menu. And meat does get old as a maindish.