Slashdot Mirror


Japan's Unique Cow/Whale Hybrid Experiments

RemyBR writes "Controversial scientific research happens all the time, but a review conducted by scientists in Japan uncovered a list of 'bizarre' trials - including one program designed to crossbreed cows with whales.'Scientists have analyzed 43 research papers produced by Japan over 18 years, finding most were useless or esoteric. The scientific research included injecting minke whale sperm into cows eggs, and attempts to produce test-tube whale babies.'"

16 of 348 comments (clear)

  1. Love It or Hate It? by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Funny

    I really am torn on these experiments, I mean I could seriously question the motive and nature:

    Of all the animals you had to pick from you went with cows and whales? Cows and wales? What's next? Sloths and sea sponges? You had the chance to go Island of Doctor Moreau and you tried to recreate a manatee (hello? already exists!) instead of ... oh I don't know ... hybridizing wolverines and great white sharks?

    On the other hand, I could also defend it with other logic, just as solid:

    I don't see anything wrong with it. It was all a matter of time before this happened naturally anyways. Interspecies mating happens all the time between donkeys and horses resulting in a mule or hinny. Occasionally squash and pumpkin plants cross fertilize. It's common. Really, it was only a matter of time before a heard of cattle near the ocean resulted in a particularly rowdy bull wandering into the Ross Sea or Pacific Ocean to jump the bones of a minke whale thus creating a hybrid. Who knows, maybe these would be as useful as mules are? I'm sure the poor of third world countries could use another pack animal--now for oceanic voyages!

    --
    My work here is dung.
    1. Re:Love It or Hate It? by MrNaz · · Score: 5, Funny

      *Mumbles something about welcoming new cowhale overlords*
      *Gets modded to the depths of hell*
      *Swears*

      --
      I hate printers.
    2. Re:Love It or Hate It? by TobyRush · · Score: 5, Funny

      It was all a matter of time before this happened naturally anyways.

      No kidding! In fact, when I read the headline my first thought is that these guys were experimenting with ways to put a stop to the rampant cow/whale breeding that has been taking place in cities like mine. It's really transformed my neighborhood in such a way that I'm no longer comfortable letting my kids play out front, at least not unsupervised.

      --
      Sam! If you will let me be,
      I will try them.
      You will see.
    3. Re:Love It or Hate It? by ArcherB · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think it's going to be a pig-elephant. Maybe, but that really wouldn't take the work of Japanese scientists. All you need is a pot-bellied pig, an elephant, lots of alcohol, and some Isaac Hayes music.

      However, it will probably end up that a closeted gay, balding school teacher did all the "real" work. Even then, what good will it be if only has one ass?
      --
      There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
    4. Re:Love It or Hate It? by The+End+Of+Days · · Score: 5, Funny

      Dolphins aren't fish, they just taste the same.

    5. Re:Love It or Hate It? by VorpalRodent · · Score: 5, Funny

      Unfortunately, early attempts to mate lasers with sharks have proven unsuccessful. All the sharks either died or were rendered infertile as a result of the acts.

      Attempts to directly fertilize a shark egg with a laser resulted in the immediate destruction of the ovum.

      Perhaps someday science will answer this question, but for today, we must still dream.

      --
      Take it to the limit, everybody to the limit, come on, everybody fhqwhgads.
    6. Re:Love It or Hate It? by bickerdyke · · Score: 4, Funny

      Dolphins are just gay sharks!

      --
      bickerdyke
  2. As Paris Hilton would say... by Izabael_DaJinn · · Score: 4, Funny
    "The scientific research included injecting minke whale sperm into cows eggs, and attempts to produce test-tube whale babies.'"

    That's hot!

    --
    Careful What You Wish For....
  3. Isn't this how Cloverfield started? by xmuskrat · · Score: 5, Funny

    It looked like a cow whale to me.

    --
    activestudios web design
  4. Pff. by FlyingSquidStudios · · Score: 5, Funny

    God, schmod. I want my whalecow.

  5. Half bear Half pig by Grokmoo · · Score: 5, Funny

    I am ok with them pursuing this line of research, as long as they don't try something truly dangerous, like a half bear, half pig. Or worse, a half man, half bear, half pig. Now that would be trouble.

  6. related research by circletimessquare · · Score: 4, Funny

    -quantifying the mouthfeel of whale flesh on a scale of carnivorous appeal
    -how to use less fossil fuels in the preparation of whale meat to abide by the kyoto protocol
    -classifying whale meat's umami taste factor
    -topological descriptions of various folding models in the preparation of whale meat sushi

    most of the scientific papers associated with this vastly important field of scientific research have concluded some amazing scientific findings, samples of the papers' conclusions:

    "om nom nom nom nom nom..."

    "BURP"

    "pass the sapporo, onegai shimasu"

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  7. Re:This sounds like a twisted subplot to an anime. by Surt · · Score: 5, Funny

    Seriously. YUCK! What gets IN to these people?


    I'm thinking it's the whale sperm.

    --
    "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
  8. Japan's response... by AutopsyReport · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't have a cow, man!

    --

    For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.

  9. Re:Yeah, right. by MadMidnightBomber · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think you meant:

    1. Stale Meme, plus
    2. "I know I'm going to be modded down."
    3. Profit!!

    PS. self-referential post FTW!

    --
    "It doesn't cost enough, and it makes too much sense."
  10. Re:It's worse, it makes it (sound) xenophobic by Moraelin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Do you have any idea how medical research works? You can't ethically use humans, so you find a model organism and hope it's close enough that your results apply to humans. I can't say that that research is good, but there's nothing inherently wrong with that kind of experimental design.


    Actually, I do have some idea. And yes, I could also tell you what was the purpose of each of the western experiments I listed.

    The point wasn't that Western research is all silly. The point is that you can make anything sound silly, or outright deranged, if you quote selected bits out of context, apply some heavy-handed spin to it, and do it for an audience that's more interested in validating their own xenophobic delusions than in critically thinking about that experiment.
    --
    A polar bear is a cartesian bear after a coordinate transform.