Lions and tigers and bear-steaks
There are, it seems, scientists currently engaged in the process of trying to grow meat in vats, outside of the animals in which it'd normally be found. It's like cloning, except without all those pesky organs and such.Now, there are several obvious implications of this. If meat no longer requires animals*, the vegetarians can sit down and shut up. If in vitro meat turns out to be cheaper and easier to produce, and not dependent on arable land or other such resources, we have a viable means of feeding a lot of people who aren't currently fed.
But the Wikipedia article points out one I hadn't considered: without the need to actually feed or grow the animals in question, many more varieties of meat become viable culinary options. You can finally try lion steak. Or filet of humpback. Porpoise pie, maybe?
Being an avid carnivore, I find that a very interesting thought.
Of course, the article goes on to mention that another type of meat, freed from its source animal, might become acceptable as food: human. I'm not sure if long pigs in a blanket holds the same appeal for me.
* More accurately, I suppose: "If meat no longer requires the death of animals..." Since you still need source animals for the stem cells from which the meat is grown, assuming that's the method that proves viable.
posted by Smitty @ 1:07 AM
3 Comments:
Oh no! Soylent Green!
My concers would initially center around flavor. The way meat tastes actually has a lot to do with what the animal ate in life. What does meat in a vat eat? Could designer nutrient solutions be supplied, resulting in pork which tastes as it does when coming from pigs fed huge amounts of apples and pears? This gives the pork a sweeter flavor; I happen to know from direct experience. Lion steak in reality would probably be terrible, as strict carnivores generally do not taste good. Otter meat is said to taste fishy and, given the otter's almost 100% seafood diet, was once allowed to be consumed on Fridays, even during Lent, by the Catholic church.
Now, the question becomes, if beef grows on trees--or in vats, rather--what becomes of all the cows?
Why, they return to their natural habitat, of course...
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