A while ago i blogged about myostatin- a gene that inhibits muscle growth. When the gene is defective, muscle growth continues unabated. Here's a National Geographic video about it- with particular reference to the "double muscled" Belgian Blue cow. The interviewer is clearly an idiot - "does that mean they have two of every muscle?".
Note the muscle tremors - "myoclonus". Why isn't PETA outraged? Because these cows were "bred" the old fashioned way.
It's reminiscent of the furore over GM Canola. The fact is Canola has already been "Gee-Emmed".
Canola used to be green, bitter, smelly and (to top it off) contained a potential cardiotoxin. After bombardment with mutating X-rays and a bit of artificial selection- bingo! - toxin eliminated. Of course the old moniker "rapeseed oil" had to be ditched - "Canola" comes from the term "Canadian Oil, Low Acid".
Synopsis: Test tube or selective breeding? - It doesn't matter how an animal (or plant ) has been "genetically modified"- what matters is how freaky it ends up being. I think we should ban the Belgian Blue, and while we're at it - these ugly dogs. Any other suggestions?
Note the muscle tremors - "myoclonus". Why isn't PETA outraged? Because these cows were "bred" the old fashioned way.
It's reminiscent of the furore over GM Canola. The fact is Canola has already been "Gee-Emmed".
Canola used to be green, bitter, smelly and (to top it off) contained a potential cardiotoxin. After bombardment with mutating X-rays and a bit of artificial selection- bingo! - toxin eliminated. Of course the old moniker "rapeseed oil" had to be ditched - "Canola" comes from the term "Canadian Oil, Low Acid".
Synopsis: Test tube or selective breeding? - It doesn't matter how an animal (or plant ) has been "genetically modified"- what matters is how freaky it ends up being. I think we should ban the Belgian Blue, and while we're at it - these ugly dogs. Any other suggestions?
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