NationStates Jolt Archive

Food from cloned animals safe to eat: FDA
Thu Dec 28, 2006 3:21pm ET



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Milk and meat from some cloned animals are safe to eat, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday in a draft ruling that brings the controversial technology closer to American grocery carts.




http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-12-28T201851Z_01_WBT006349_RTRUKOC_0_US-CLONING-FOOD.xml&WTmodLoc=Home-C2-TopNews-newsOne-7


Ok. No. I don't think I'll be rushing out to buy some any time soon.Just seems a little too weird.Thoughts??

Ok. No. I don't think I'll be rushing out to buy some any time soon.Just seems a little too weird.Thoughts??

Not as weird as vat grown "meat." (http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=66)

I for one would love to eat some Dolly.

I don't think its safe. :( Studies show that eating genetcially engineered food causes irregularities.

Example: Genetically engineered potatoes stunt growth, this is the main reason many American teens are shorter these days, heck there are tons of people who are as tall as four year olds but they're older than me. :eek: This applies to adults to. I've seen people who are 20 or so and are two feet shorter than I am. I know they're not midgets, they're only proprtionally small.

It doesn't make any scientific sense why eating genetically modified food should be unhealthy. Considering what the human digestive tract does to what passes through it, saying that eating genetically modified food is unhealthy is like saying square-shaped foods are unhealthy.

I don't think its safe. :( Studies show that eating genetcially engineered food causes irregularities.

Example: Genetically engineered potatoes stunt growth, this is the main reason many American teens are shorter these days, heck there are tons of people who are as tall as four year olds but they're older than me. :eek: This applies to adults to. I've seen people who are 20 or so and are two feet shorter than I am. I know they're not midgets, they're only proprtionally small.

Source? Because every peer-reviewed study I've been able to find says the exact opposite.

It doesn't make any scientific sense why eating genetically modified food should be unhealthy. Considering what the human digestive tract does to what passes through it, saying that eating genetically modified food is unhealthy is like saying square-shaped foods are unhealthy.
Remember it wasn't so long ago that we thought that feeding bone meal to cattle and then eating them was safe.Too little time to judge the long term effects prehaps?

Remember it wasn't so long ago that we thought that feeding bone meal to cattle and then eating them was safe.Too little time to judge the long term effects prehaps?

There's a world of difference between the two. Genetically modifying food is no different than what humanity has been doing since the dawn of agriculture. We've just sped up the process.

Edit: Oh, and bone meal is safe. Infected nerve tissue is the problem, and the only reason the problem occured was that sick cattle were added to the food. It was a stupid move from the beginning.

From what I know of cloning, which isn't very much, it's probably safe to eat. But it's still weird. Just like I don't eat cockroaches, no matter how nutritious you might tell me they are.

It doesn't make any scientific sense why eating genetically modified food should be unhealthy. Considering what the human digestive tract does to what passes through it, saying that eating genetically modified food is unhealthy is like saying square-shaped foods are unhealthy.

Well in biology I learned that most cells absorb materials for constructing more cellular parts, however this is only possible once done with enzymes, since our bodies are not used to genetically engineered food our enzymes can't break them down however that doesn't stop our cells from absorbing them. Absorbing certain chemicals (particularly those that aren't broken down) has a high chance of damaging DNA, which is a main reason smoking causes cancer, it can't be broken down and it damages the part of the genetic code regulating cell division. When it absorbs certain chemicals produced by the special gene implanted in the potato it reacts with our growth hormone gene and stops it thus stunting growth.

Well in biology I learned that most cells absorb materials for constructing more cellular parts, however this is only possible once done with enzymes, since our bodies are not used to genetically engineered food our enzymes can't break them down however that doesn't stop our cells from absorbing them. Absorbing certain chemicals (particularly those that aren't broken down) has a high chance of damaging DNA, which is a main reason smoking causes cancer, it can't be broken down and it damages the part of the genetic code regulating cell division. When it absorbs certain chemicals produced by the special gene implanted in the potato it reacts with our growth hormone gene and stops it thus stunting growth.

Genes don't work like that. We can break down any genetic material with no problem. It's all made out of the same stuff.

The unhealthy parts of foods these days are the additives, preservatives, and other chemicals that were wholly foreign to the human body only a hundred years ago, not some damned cloned meat.

Remember it wasn't so long ago that we thought that feeding bone meal to cattle and then eating them was safe.Too little time to judge the long term effects prehaps?

Apples and oranges.

The genes are inside the cells of the food we eat. The go into our stomachs and are ravaged by the acid in our stomach. The enzymes in our stomach then seperates all the proteins into seperate amino acids. It doesn't make a difference where the amino acids come from, as they are the same.

I'll have some Dolly with cloned mint jelly, please.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-12-28T201851Z_01_WBT006349_RTRUKOC_0_US-CLONING-FOOD.xml&WTmodLoc=Home-C2-TopNews-newsOne-7


Ok. No. I don't think I'll be rushing out to buy some any time soon.Just seems a little too weird.Thoughts??

If you eat meat you won't have a choice. It won't be labeled as such. The meat industry as seen to that. You'll unquestioningly eat what they choose to give you and you'll like it.

I doubt that genetically modified foods are harmful. However, I still think they should be labeled. Allow the consumer to decide what he wants to ingest. Hiding what is in our food only destroys our confidence in it. Organic anyone?

There's a world of difference between the two. Genetically modifying food is no different than what humanity has been doing since the dawn of agriculture. We've just sped up the process.

Edit: Oh, and bone meal is safe. Infected nerve tissue is the problem, and the only reason the problem occured was that sick cattle were added to the food. It was a stupid move from the beginning.
True it was infected nerve tissue. Still don't look at a T Bone steak in the same way.In hind sight it seems like a very bad idea but whos to say that we won't be doing the same thing with this in 30 years time??( Hope NS is still around then in some format) I am not saying that it is going to be unhealthy but that we should take our time to carry out more research instead of rushing into things simply because they could boost production in the short.Remember this technology has not been around that long.

If you eat meat you won't have a choice. It won't be labeled as such. The meat industry as seen to that. You'll unquestioningly eat what they choose to give you and you'll like it.

I doubt that genetically modified foods are harmful. However, I still think they should be labeled. Allow the consumer to decide what he wants to ingest. Hiding what is in our food only destroys our confidence in it. Organic anyone?

Unless things have changed, genetically altered food is labeled. If not just because the meat industry doesn't want any more regulation on itself (it's always fighting the likes of PETA in court and the media), but also because hey, they value costumers that can trust them.

Remember this technology has not been around that long.

It's been around since the dawn of human agriculture. We've just developed a way to skip all the unnecessary parts, such as going through a few thousand generations.

Also, do you honestly think that scientists are just blindly adding genes of which they don't know the function? Because they're not.

A cloned animal is no different than it's "parent". If the original animal was safe to eat, so is the clone. Case closed.

Genes don't work like that. We can break down any genetic material with no problem. It's all made out of the same stuff.

Margarine and butter are chemically the same however the shape of the molecules are different, and our enzymes can only break down the molecule that is both right in shape and chemical composition. Taking that into consideration it now seems possible for a chemical that is chemically the same as any other chemical our enzymes can break down but is different in shape, because it isn't broken down it gets into the cell and starts reacting with the chemicals already in it thus causing the problem. Our bodies are only meant for eating natural foods, eating genetically engineered foods and fake foods that are made of plastic and chemicals meant to fool you into thinking its real messes with our chemical composition and screws up our health.

It's been around since the dawn of human agriculture. We've just developed a way to skip all the unnecessary parts, such as going through a few thousand generations.

Also, do you honestly think that scientists are just blindly adding genes of which they don't know the function? Because they're not.
Yes, but the human digestive system does not have time to catch up with a few thousand generations in 20 odd years.There are many more instances of alergies now than there were 50 years ago.True it might be related to better ways of detecting them but even then there are concerns that it may be environmental causes.

A cloned animal is no different than it's "parent". If the original animal was safe to eat, so is the clone. Case closed.

Saw a documentary on cloning at school, clones are not exactly like the original, clones age faster, have health problems sooner and may have different physical traits depending on where it developed (womb, cloning machine, petri dish, ect) The only clones without these problems are nature's clones...identical twins.

A cloned animal is no different than it's "parent". If the original animal was safe to eat, so is the clone. Case closed.
Do you not find premature ageing worrying??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_the_sheep#Premature_aging
Again I am not against it per say but would like people to be cautious untill the ramifacitions are knowen.

(And yes I know my spelling is dire)

clones age faster,

False. They don't age faster at all. They just start at an older age because their telomeres are shorter. Clone a three year-old sheep, and the clone will be biologically three years old.

Do you not find premature ageing worrying??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_the_sheep#Premature_aging

Not at all. See my above post. It's to be expected. If the clone doesn't age prematurely, it'd be worrying.

Saw a documentary on cloning at school, clones are not exactly like the original, clones age faster, have health problems sooner and may have different physical traits depending on where it developed (womb, cloning machine, petri dish, ect) The only clones without these problems are nature's clones...identical twins.

It was thought that the shortened telomeres of clone chromosomes would cause them to age faster, but new research shows clone telomeres behave like normal telomeres.

http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/22181/

Unless things have changed, genetically altered food is labeled. If not just because the meat industry doesn't want any more regulation on itself (it's always fighting the likes of PETA in court and the media), but also because hey, they value costumers that can trust them.

Not in the US. Almost all corn products are genetically modified over here. Yet you won't find a single word about it on you bag of Doritos or box of taco shells or bag of corn meal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_war_over_genetically_modified_food

"The American Agricultural Department officials answer that since the United States does not require labeling, Europe should not require labeling either. They claim mandatory labelling could imply there is something wrong with genetically modified food, which would be also a trade barrier. Current U.S. laws do not require GM crops to be labeled or traced because U.S. regulators do not believe that GM crops pose any unique risks over conventional food. Europe answers that the labeling and traceability requirements are not only limited to GM food, but will apply to any agricultural goods.

The American agricultural industry also complains about the costs implied by labeling."

Margarine and butter are chemically the same however the shape of the molecules are different, and our enzymes can only break down the molecule that is both right in shape and chemical composition. Taking that into consideration it now seems possible for a chemical that is chemically the same as any other chemical our enzymes can break down but is different in shape, because it isn't broken down it gets into the cell and starts reacting with the chemicals already in it thus causing the problem.
What does any of this have to do with cloning?
Our bodies are only meant for eating natural foods, eating genetically engineered foods and fake foods that are made of plastic and chemicals meant to fool you into thinking its real messes with our chemical composition and screws up our health.

And you have some kind of proof of this which was unavailable to the FDA?

It was thought that the shortened telomeres of clone chromosomes would cause them to age faster, but new research shows clone telomeres behave like normal telomeres.

http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/22181/

Well, damn. I'm wrong then. How'd I miss this.

Although I think that there are other measures of age besides telomere length, so if those don't get reset, my point would still stand.

I don't think its safe. :( Studies show that eating genetcially engineered food causes irregularities.

From what I've read, the jury is still out on genetically engineered food.

However, that is neither here nor there. The FDA has not stated that genetically engineered food need not be labeled. In fact, as of now, they still have not approved most such food for human consumption at all.

They have simply ruled that cloned animals are safe for consumption. Cloned animals may have a shorter lifespan than their "parents" do (and that isn't known for certain), but there is really no reason to believe that a cloned animal's meat is going to be any different from its parent animal. Cloned animals are not genetically engineered - they are simply made from the same DNA as the animal being cloned.


Also, do you honestly think that scientists are just blindly adding genes of which they don't know the function? Because they're not.

No, but we never know all the functions of a given gene before adding it. We might genetically alter a given plant to make it more robust to cold. However, depending on how the gene is added and how the new protein interacts with the species, there may be all sorts of unanticipated effects.

I'm not opposed to genetic engineering in principle, but it is something we have to be very, very, very careful with. This is why most genetically engineered foods are still under testing, rather than approved for human consumption.


Saw a documentary on cloning at school, clones are not exactly like the original, clones age faster, have health problems sooner and may have different physical traits depending on where it developed (womb, cloning machine, petri dish, ect) The only clones without these problems are nature's clones...identical twins.

The different physical traits generally refers to coloring and such - not important to the approval of the meat.

And the possibility of aging faster, again, is not going to be a problem with the meat. If you kill a 3-year old cow vs. a 1-year old cow, the meat might taste slightly different, but it isn't going to be dangerous.

This thread is making me hungry.

When you fuck with nature...

Well in biology I learned that most cells absorb materials for constructing more cellular parts, however this is only possible once done with enzymes, since our bodies are not used to genetically engineered food our enzymes can't break them down however that doesn't stop our cells from absorbing them. Absorbing certain chemicals (particularly those that aren't broken down) has a high chance of damaging DNA, which is a main reason smoking causes cancer, it can't be broken down and it damages the part of the genetic code regulating cell division. When it absorbs certain chemicals produced by the special gene implanted in the potato it reacts with our growth hormone gene and stops it thus stunting growth.

What level biology are you in?

Ah yes, but robotic animals are still not safe to eat!!!


When you fuck with nature...
You get pregnant and get STDs, unless you use a condom combined with the Birth Control Pill. Or if you and Nature just had one stupid night, plan B can work too.

What does any of this have to do with cloning?


And you have some kind of proof of this which was unavailable to the FDA?

As I said before the gene in potatoes creates chemicals that react with our cells, they are the same chemicals only different shape molecule, our bodies wouldn't have a problem processing it if the molecules for the chemicals produced by the added gene were the same shape as the molecules are body is used to breaking down. As margarine and butter are the smae chemically but in different shapes (making it impossible to process margarine) the same goes with materials absorbed from genetically engineered food as opposed to natural food.

As I said before the gene in potatoes creates chemicals that react with our cells, they are the same chemicals only different shape molecule, our bodies wouldn't have a problem processing it if the molecules for the chemicals produced by the added gene were the same shape as the molecules are body is used to breaking down. As margarine and butter are the smae chemically but in different shapes (making it impossible to process margarine) the same goes with materials absorbed from genetically engineered food as opposed to natural food.

Of course, you haven't bothered to provide a source. Also, where the fuck did you get the idea that humans can't digest margarine? It's just solidified vegetable oil.

Of course, you haven't bothered to provide a source. Also, where the fuck did you get the idea that humans can't digest margarine? It's just solidified vegetable oil.

Learned it in school.

Learned it in school.

Then your school sucks.

Then your school sucks.

We prefer to call it "US public education" I think Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer said it best.

"Back in high school, knowledge was...pretty much frowned upon"

We prefer to call it "US public education" I think Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer said it best.

"Back in high school, knowledge was...pretty much frowned upon"

All the public schools I've gone to have been fine.

I don't think its safe. :( Studies show that eating genetcially engineered food causes irregularities.

Example: Genetically engineered potatoes stunt growth, this is the main reason many American teens are shorter these days, heck there are tons of people who are as tall as four year olds but they're older than me. :eek: This applies to adults to. I've seen people who are 20 or so and are two feet shorter than I am. I know they're not midgets, they're only proprtionally small.

link???


The FDA's scientists have said there is absolutely no difference between cloned beef and regular beef.

When you put a scientist against a lawyer I'll take sides with the scientist cause he's more likely to know what he's talking about than the lawyer is.

All the public schools I've gone to have been fine.

...

You don't live in the US, is the only thing I can get from this.

Not as weird as vat grown "meat." (http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=66)

*shudders*

*shudders*

Awesome they should try making replacement organs that way. :)

Not as weird as vat grown "meat." (http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=66)

Oh my god that is so freaking sweet.

Oh my god that is so freaking sweet.

Woohoo, I'm not alone on this one!

A cloned animal is no different than it's "parent". If the original animal was safe to eat, so is the clone. Case closed.

Hear hear, hear hear.

We can't feed the people we have, and more are on the way. I'd say we need every bit of possible food we can get. Bring on the cloned, genetically engineered food, and make it snappy.

...

You don't live in the US, is the only thing I can get from this.

Believe it or not, there are some good public schools in the US. They're just few and far between and you have to get the right teachers at them.


Awesome they should try making replacement organs that way.

We'll get there eventually. Skin made in much this way is already commercially available, although most insurance companies won't pay for it. A few companies are working on getting tissue engineered cartilage approved. Most other organs have more than one cell type and a great deal of cellular organization, so doing this is much more complicated, but we're working on it, believe me.

I wouldn't have any problems at all eating products from cloned animals.

Out of interest, what are the benefits of cloning animals for meat? Surely the cost of the cloning procedure would outweigh any small advantages which cloning has over normal selective breeding?

I don't think its safe. :( Studies show that eating genetcially engineered food causes irregularities.

Example: Genetically engineered potatoes stunt growth, this is the main reason many American teens are shorter these days, heck there are tons of people who are as tall as four year olds but they're older than me. :eek: This applies to adults to. I've seen people who are 20 or so and are two feet shorter than I am. I know they're not midgets, they're only proprtionally small. And Gene modded cows causes early Puberty, that causes shortness as well.

But this isn't cloned Genetic modified meat, this is cloned regular DNA. no alterations (Aside from being a double)

We can't feed the people we have, and more are on the way. I'd say we need every bit of possible food we can get. Bring on the cloned, genetically engineered food, and make it snappy.

The problem is distribution, not quantity. We have plenty of food. It just doesn't get to the people who need it.

Out of interest, what are the benefits of cloning animals for meat? Surely the cost of the cloning procedure would outweigh any small advantages which cloning has over normal selective breeding?

From what I understand, the interest is more in cloning breeding stock than actually eating cloned animals. There is already a company that makes money by cloning prize livestock - livestock generally used as breeding stock. We most likely wouldn't be eating cloned animals, but would be eating the progeny of cloned animals.

From what I understand, the interest is more in cloning breeding stock than actually eating cloned animals. There is already a company that makes money by cloning prize livestock - livestock generally used as breeding stock. We most likely wouldn't be eating cloned animals, but would be eating the progeny of cloned animals.

Thanks. :)