Does this make anybody nervous? Government says food/meat from cloned animals in okay to eat. I don't know the science or any reason this would be bad, but I think I'll pass until there's more information.

No. I think it's great. Especially when it's fed to the "socially conscious".

Unfortunately Spiral, you really don't have a choice on passing since it doesn't have to be labeled.

Bon Apetit.......

Great! Bon Apetit it is. Who knows, a third arm could come in handy.

Why don't they clone some white tigers and bald eagles and sea turtles and other "endangered" species so people can start hunting them again? I'd love to throw a Tiger roast on the barbie some day.

I'd like to Clone some Chateau Petrus 1947, or some Margaux from 1982.
I wonder what the limits are for cloning.
(let's just make sure we keep cdr11 away from the cloner )

Two words - cloned sausage.

quote:

Originally posted by Spiral:
I don't know the science or any reason this would be bad, but I think I'll pass until there's more information.

would you also "pass" if claudia schiffers' clone wanted to F you?

This is the same government that said Olestra was good for you, isn't it?

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:
This is the same government that said Olestra was good for you, isn't it?

you mean, with side effects like this??

I have been wondering what all the fuss is over this in the news. I guess because of the evil word "clone". I am all for cloned food, and would purchase it without hesitation. Anyone who understands the science behind this would also understand that the animal is genetically absolutely no different than non-cloned food. They simply are taking the cell of an animal, raising the embryo in a lab, and then inserting into a live host mother - creating a normal animal that is genetically identical to the original source.

Now, on the flip side, why would the food industry be interested in doing this? My thought is that the motivation is also a benefit to the consumer - reliable results! Take, for example, grape vine propagation. If you try to propagate vines via seed the results will be useless - you won't be able to realize a reliable, consistent crop of grapes - they'll be all over the map. That's why all grape vines these days are propagated through clippings, grafted onto the rootstock of choice - the vine is genetically identical to the original plant, and thereby produces a predictable and reliable crop. Same thing here - food producers starting with a healthy, excellent animal specimen can guarantee the cloned offspring will be endowed with the same genes, thereby ensuring reliable, predictable, and healthy examples of food animals. No more runt bovines, etc.

IMO, a good thing for the food industry and a good thing for the consumer, if people can get over the irrational fear of the term.

Compelling arguments from both Eric and TBird.

Good post Eric; I would add that at present, cloning is not a cost-effective way to produce animals for slaughter (yet). For at least the next several years, cloned animals will only be used as breeding stock.

Very interesting Vinyrd, and that raises a question which is actually my only concern in the whole thing - how do you manage inter-clone breeding? Wouldn't that be the one risk involved in this, the breeding of genetically identical animals, and thereby the risk interbreeding?

Eric:

Get me a date with TBird's Claudia Schiffer clone, and I will let you know how I manage.

I am not concerned about the breeding of genetically identical animals or interbreeding. It seems to have worked well for people in Oklahoma, West Virginia, etc. so it can't be all bad.

THIII

quote:

Originally posted by Vinyrd Skynyrd:
Good post Eric; I would add that at present, cloning is not a cost-effective way to produce animals for slaughter (yet). For at least the next several years, cloned animals will only be used as breeding stock.

What's the point in cloning animals anyway, particularly for breeding stock? Aren't they perfectly capable of breeding on their own? If we start breeding from clones we're suddenly looking at a much shallower gene pool.

Cloning animals is a little different from taking a cutting from a grape vine and letting it develop roots and branches.

Finally, why aren't people clamouring for proper labelling? The US has ridiculously lax labelling laws as it is - for example no requirement to quote the ABV on beer, labelling products that can contain as much as 5% trans fat as being "trans fat free", etc.

I have no objection to the sale of cloned meat, I just want to know what it is I'm buying.

I've no problems with cloning or GM foods.

We've been cloning plants for centuries with cuttings and I nor any of immediate family have 2 heads (we won't mention the cousins that stayed on the farm). As for GM, all what GM does is speed up selective breeding programs, which humans have been doing for millenia.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong:
What's the point in cloning animals anyway, particularly for breeding stock? Aren't they perfectly capable of breeding on their own?

Of course they capable on their own, but the advantage is as I outlined above - deterministic, reliable outcome. You can predict the cloned offspring with 100% accuracy, ensuring the best possible examples of the animal - and thus higher quality, higher yeild, lower fat, or whatever it is you are after.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong:
If we start breeding from clones we're suddenly looking at a much shallower gene pool.

And therein is my concern over using clones for breeding stock, I'd still like to see this question addressed. If GM were used to insure the offspring were sterile, and then those offspring used only for food production, then I wouldn't see a problem. I'm not sure how the question of interbreeding is addressed if cloning is for the purpose of creating breeding stock, as Vinyrd has suggested - I'm in the dark on this myself.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong:
Cloning animals is a little different from taking a cutting from a grape vine and letting it develop roots and branches.

In what way exactly? In both cases you are propagating identical gene material to ensure a reliable outcome. Sure, cloning is a bit more complicated, but the principle is the same.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong:
Finally, why aren't people clamouring for proper labelling? The US has ridiculously lax labelling laws as it is - for example no requirement to quote the ABV on beer, labelling products that can contain as much as 5% trans fat as being "trans fat free", etc.

Agreed, the US does have rediculous and often contradictory labelling laws, but what would labelling the product as cloned get you? The product is genetically identical to non-cloned product.

quote:

Originally posted by Pauly:
We've been cloning plants for centuries with cuttings and I nor any of immediate family have 2 heads (we won't mention the cousins that stayed on the farm). As for GM, all what GM does is speed up selective breeding programs, which humans have been doing for millenia.

Spot on Pauly!

quote:

Originally posted by Pauly:
I've no problems with cloning or GM foods.

We've been cloning plants for centuries with cuttings and I nor any of immediate family have 2 heads (we won't mention the cousins that stayed on the farm). As for GM, all what GM does is speed up selective breeding programs, which humans have been doing for millenia.

Actually my biggest problem with GM plants is geopolitical.

Monsanto has a huge lock on the global seed supply. They own patented "Genetic Use Restriction Technology" or "Terminator" genes that can be introduced into their seeds, so that the plant will grow and it can be harvested for food or whatever, but the seeds of the plant are sterile. Once farmers who traditionally hold back a portion of the seed to grow the next year's crop get sucked in to using those seeds they are stuffed; they would have no alternative but to buy fresh seeds every year.

I think it's a great idea. You pick the best and clone it to duplicate it.

There you are. Board-O thinks it's a good idea. The defence rests.

Someone is still trying to clone my recipes on this board Another dish gets challenged

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Tong:
Actually my biggest problem with GM plants is geopolitical.

Monsanto has a huge lock on the global seed supply. They own patented "Genetic Use Restriction Technology" or "Terminator" genes

I don't know about your American farmers, but the Aussie farmers I know who are concerned about the terminator genes are just going on using their old methods.