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IBM To Help Sequence the Chocolate Genome

Posted by timothy on from the 'bout-time-they-got-some-real-priorities dept.

Dekortage writes "The New York Times reports this morning that IBM will work with Mars — the candy company who makes M&Ms and Snickers, among other things — on a five year project to sequence the cocoa genome. According to Howard-Yana Shapiro, global director of plant science at Mars, the goal is to 'discover the genetic building blocks of traits like disease and pest resistance, drought tolerance and perhaps flavor.' Additionally, the project's results will be available for free from the Public Intellectual Property Resource for Agriculture."

20 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. I'm willing to help, too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    However I will need MANY samples... from all over the world. For thoroughness of course.

  2. Chocolate Gnome plan by Noren · · Score: 2, Funny

    1. Sequence cocoa DNA
    2. Publish in the public domain
    3. ???
    4. Profit!

    1. Re:Chocolate Gnome plan by Foofoobar · · Score: 4, Funny

      3. Have agricultural scientists crossbreed cocoa with cannabis for healthier, tastier and easier to bake brownies. (not to mention easier to bake humans)

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    2. Re:Chocolate Gnome plan by jdb2 · · Score: 3, Funny
      I second that!


      But seriously it's actually thought, because of recent research, that chocolate is so pleasurable because it contains trace amounts of cannabinoids.

      I can see it now "In an ongoing series of police raids in an effort to stop the illegal use and sale of Cocoa, officials seized 100 pounds of Wonka chocolate bars that were in the possession of a previously cited Cocoa abusing teenager. As a dealer, he faces a possible life sentence if convicted."

      jdb2

    3. Re:Chocolate Gnome plan by Max+Littlemore · · Score: 3, Funny

      Even better...

      3. Have agricultural scientists develop edible brussel sprouts.

      --
      I don't therefore I'm not.
    4. Re:Chocolate Gnome plan by jeiler · · Score: 2, Funny

      Good plan, but needs a laser in there somewhere....

      --

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      Sacred cows make the best hamburger.

    5. Re:Chocolate Gnome plan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Doesn't dependence for chocolates start after 100 tablets a day? If you eat 10kg of chocolates a day, you have bigger problems than dependences to cannabinoids.

      Remember, the dose makes the poison.

    6. Re:Chocolate Gnome plan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Mars seems to be pretty much about cheap, serviceable products.

      I don't know. I've read good things about Mars lately. ;)

  3. Call me a pessimist by EdIII · · Score: 2, Funny

    I don't think IBM and Mars could work together and concentrate on anything less than "flavor".

    Don't get me wrong, I like the idea. I just don't think there is as much altruism in this project as is claimed.

    I know this is a stretch, but I would love to see this research lead to the first chocolate covered peanut tree. Or bush, I'm flexible.

  4. Coffee plant next please by Gewalt · · Score: 2, Funny

    Caffeine and Chocolate are supposed to be very similar in chemical construction. I would really like to see a single plant that could make both. You know, like those chocolate covered coffee beans, only... actually tasty... Oh ya, and find some way to minimize the sugar and fat needed to make it slightly less bad for you.

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  5. More farming options by davidwr · · Score: 2, Funny

    imagine being able to create a plant that can grow in a diffrent climate Like maybe here?
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    1. Re:More farming options by jeiler · · Score: 2, Funny

      Mars owns Mars? I for one welcome our chocolate-producing overlords!

      --

      If you haven't been down-modded lately, you aren't trying.

      Sacred cows make the best hamburger.

  6. Re:Damn! by X0563511 · · Score: 5, Funny

    First, people stopped reading the articles. Next, they stopped reading the summaries.

    I think we are now at the point where people stop reading the comments. Next after that, people will stop reading what they typed, and from that what they are typing. In only a few short steps Slashdot will become the biggest random number generator in existance.

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  7. Re:Cacao not cocoa by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Your jeans should contain a noodle though.

  8. Re:Damn! by jesdynf · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm sorry, but... did you SEE your handle?

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  9. Re:Damn! by Drooling+Iguana · · Score: 2, Funny

    4. Profit!

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  10. Re:Cacao not cocoa by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    so my noodles don't have genes? :(

    Yes, they do - they're vegetables: they grow in trees, and are harvested in places like Switzerland

  11. Re:Damn! by owlnation · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think we are now at the point where people stop reading the comments. Next after that, people will stop reading what they typed, and from that what they are typing. In only a few short steps Slashdot will become the biggest random number generator in existance.
    Like Digg then?
  12. Re:Cacao not cocoa by philspear · · Score: 4, Funny

    In unrelated news, scientists at IBM today isolated a new gene called the "anal retentive gene." It is highly related to the "grammar nazi" gene, and belongs to the "someone has way too much time on their hands" family of genes.

    Anyway, alomex, you should probably e-mail Mars and IBM right now. They're going to be wasting a lot of time and chocolate otherwise.

  13. Re:What will they discover? by Max+Littlemore · · Score: 4, Funny

    I have a feeling they're going to discover something that they really wouldn't want to know. Like Chocolate is 99% the same genetically as poop

    Or even worse, they'll discover that if they remove the gene responsible for creating caffeine from cacao, they'll end up with carob. Personally, I'm hoping for the poop scenario.

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    I don't therefore I'm not.