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Chinese Company To Sell Genetically Modified Micro Pigs as Pets (abc.net.au)

Posted by Soulskill on from the surely-this-is-a-sign-of-the-apocalypse dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Tyne McConnon from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports that a research firm in China plans to"sell its 'micro pig' as a pet after it successfully edited the DNA of the animal to stunt its growth. Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) created the pig, which grows to weigh between 14 and 20 kilograms, by changing the DNA responsible for its growth. The company originally genetically modified the Bama pig breed for research but announced at a Bio Tech Leader summit in China recently their plans to sell it."

7 of 139 comments (clear)

  1. Elephants next, please by Beryllium+Sphere(tm) · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Arthur Clarke pointed out decades ago that some kind of mini-elephant would be a great home service animal. With a trunk to work with, it could open refrigerators, pick up the phone, and do other delicate handling operations.

    1. Re:Elephants next, please by witherstaff · · Score: 4, Interesting

      If I remember, Jurassic Park get the funding by plopping a mini elephant on a table to show the investors what DNA could be made to do.

    2. Re:Elephants next, please by Panoptes · · Score: 5, Funny

      "some kind of mini-elephant"

      A truncated elephant, presumably?

  2. Hilarious scam by BenJeremy · · Score: 4, Funny

    We've seen this scam... sell a piglet as a "micro-pig" and by the time the new pig owner discovers it's actually a full-sized, regular pig, the seller has moved on to a new town.

  3. sorry by Hognoxious · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's just oinkredible.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  4. Re:You keep using that word by TWX · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Compared to a several-hundred-pound sow that's pretty damn small. Plus we don't know the growth rate of the animal yet either.

    --
    Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
  5. Next order of business by burtosis · · Score: 3, Funny

    Step 1: actually make them micro sized
    Step 2: hollow up those bones
    Step 3: ???
    Step 4: Add some wings and finally get some closure on that damn proverb!