I really love this stuff. Recently in Taiwan, scientists were able to extract from jelly-fish the protein that makes them glow flourescently, and put them into the nucleus of pig cells, where they would be born glowing green(like what was done to a rabbit awhile ago).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only a small amount of them were born, but those that were born were all green. Not just the outside appearance, but amazingly their organs are green too. Since their DNA is green, it will be easy to compare with other DNA to isolate and find problems and things. The article with a video and cool pictures is here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-p ... 605202.stm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other big thing is that researchers just got over 10million dollars towards getting the complete pig genome. This is used for more practical reasons, like engineering pigs to be more healthy for humans to eat, and a million other reasons like pointing out similarities in pigs and comparing them to humans to prevent disease. Article here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060114/ap_ ... NlYwM3NTM-

 

 

 

So what do you guys think?

I heard about this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty freaky stuff

Genetic engineering is starting a revolution, no doubt about that.

 

 

 

The only problem are the ethical questions on using it, and even the practical ones.

 

 

 

I consider the ethical questions not that important, but I think pratical ones must be considerated, I mean, if all the food is good, everyone has foodand there's no illnesses(sp?), something similar to what happened in Europe when the new agrary methods were discovered: people stopped dying and population raise went out of control.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Would that be that good? I mean, of course we all want a perfect world, and I support genetic engineering (don't think I'm reactionary), but it may have catastrophic results, I mean, the World is already really full of people, wich causes poverty, wars and stuff, if people stop dying, it will be an economic disaster (previdenciary system will totally break) and as well a human disaster, because it will make the world too full.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's what has to be discussed in my opinion.

If they're going to be given 10 million dollars, can they actually use the money on something worthwhile? Instead of making pigs glow in the dark?

This thread is really enlightening

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are they planning to do the same thing to other animals? Would be sick if you have a dog that would glow o_O

If they're going to be given 10 million dollars, can they actually use the money on something worthwhile? Instead of making pigs glow in the dark?

 

 

 

The 10million dollars thing is separate from the Taiwanese researchers.

 

If they're going to be given 10 million dollars, can they actually use the money on something worthwhile? Instead of making pigs glow in the dark?

 

 

 

The 10million dollars thing is separate from the Taiwanese researchers.

 

 

 

I know but I'm giving an example. I presume it cost a few million to make these flourescent pigs, which to me seems pointless.

I dunno, pigfarming 24/7? Could actually be really productive, not to mention the oppertunity to surprise your guests with glow in the dark porkchops :P

It's not pointless Bubsa. Their genes glow green, which can be used to isolate and compare genes to regular genes in researching. But moreso, pigs have similar genetic makeup to humans, so that can be used to find, cure, and stop human diseases. Makes more sense spending money for that than on things like the US going to war and spending billions of dollars caused by a reason nobody seems to know yet..

Scientists use the jellyfish "glow in the dark" protein (GFP) in experiments to distinguish cells. If they're working on a cure, for example, they may use GFP to check whether the new cells (with GFP) are more effective on fighting off the bacteria/virus than the regular cells. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We'll just have to see where this pig thing goes. I'll be watching it since it relates to my major :)

Oh of course. That makes a lot of sense actually. Sorry about that, I thought they were just making glow in the dark pigs :oops:

If they're going to be given 10 million dollars, can they actually use the money on something worthwhile? Instead of making pigs glow in the dark?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

what about monkeys :o

Scientists use the jellyfish "glow in the dark" protein (GFP) in experiments to distinguish cells. If they're working on a cure, for example, they may use GFP to check whether the new cells (with GFP) are more effective on fighting off the bacteria/virus than the regular cells. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We'll just have to see where this pig thing goes. I'll be watching it since it relates to my major :)

 

 

 

What are you majoring in weezcake? I might be interested in going into genetic engineering/biotechnology. Still very undecided. :?

 

Scientists use the jellyfish "glow in the dark" protein (GFP) in experiments to distinguish cells. If they're working on a cure, for example, they may use GFP to check whether the new cells (with GFP) are more effective on fighting off the bacteria/virus than the regular cells. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We'll just have to see where this pig thing goes. I'll be watching it since it relates to my major :)

 

 

 

What are you majoring in weezcake? I might be interested in going into genetic engineering/biotechnology. Still very undecided. :?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm majoring in biotechnology, though I'm not sure which field to enter. It'll probably be microbiotech, but animal biotech is also appealing. :)

The bad side to science :(

you know, that picture does kind of look like it was taking with a nightvision camera...

I wonder how soon until pigs can fly? Wouldn't that be a slap in the face.

The bad side to science :(

 

 

 

Why do you say that?

This is very very interesting... :D

Urgh, I don't think I like this :/ It's just too much, I mean now we're making pigs green, I wonder what we'll be doing in 20 years o.o It's not natural anymore. Giving 10 million for this, it probably would have paid off more to give it to the poor in need of the money :/

Aww why couldn't they use beef or chicken pork is gross!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They glow in dark thing is cool though.

That's quite interesting. I'd be interested in seeing what would happen if they did this to nocturnal animals; if the animals bred, then would they become accustomed to living in daylight (I don't know what antonym of nocturnal is)?

 

The bad side to science :(

 

 

 

Why do you say that?

Would you want green skin? Glowing in the dark like a freak?

 

 

The bad side to science :(

 

 

 

Why do you say that?

Would you want green skin? Glowing in the dark like a freak?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't think the purpose was to make fluro pigs (although that would be cool). It was for the purpose of investigation; i.e., to see the affects when a foreign DNA (such that in the chromosone which determines colour) has; what percentage of the specimens died, to what extent the chromosone was changed etc.

 

 

The bad side to science :(

 

 

 

Why do you say that?

Would you want green skin? Glowing in the dark like a freak?

 

 

 

So are you saying genetic engineering as a whole is bad science?

 

 

 

The pigs obviously don't know or care, and they're not going to be doing this to humans because of the risk and ethics (at least I wouldn't think so...but who knows?). I think in most areas you can push things too far, but just because some company decides to do that doesn't make the whole field of this a bad science.