Frankenfood?

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It seems like an invention straight from hog heaven: pigs with low-phosphorus poop.
Less pollution. Lower feed and cleanup costs for farmers. Maybe, eventually, less stink.

The pigs, created by genetic scientists in Ontario, could curb a serious pollution problem in Minnesota.

But these porkers aren't going to market anytime soon.

Instead, they stand at the center of the next fight over genetically modified food. And they represent tough tradeoffs for consumers.

The pigs are one of the first genetically modified livestock creations to be ready for scrutiny by regulators. Behind them in the scientific pipeline is a veritable Old MacDonald's barnyard of animals with genes manipulated to add traits such as leaner meat or disease resistance.

Creating the high-tech livestock is only the first hurdle. Next come questions of whether meat from the animals is safe to eat, whether consumers will eat it even if regulators deem it to be safe and whether the animals might pose unexpected environmental problems.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is preparing to rule next year on the first round of food-safety questions, John Matheson, an FDA senior regulatory review scientist said Thursday at a meeting in Dallas.

The FDA co-sponsored the briefing on the technology, along with the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology.

A green light from the FDA would shift the decision to farmers and food companies. Consumer groups already are warning them that the impending flareup over this food will make the dispute over biotech plant crops look tame.

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Entire article here

I for one do not like the idea, interested in other people's opinions. And thanks in advance for voting. Some more info on genetically modified foods can be found here

I have to agree mahakaal,anyway weren't things made the way they are for a reason?
Why fiddle with nature's coarse,things could only get worse.I think God was perfectly able to put things on earth just as they are for a reason which is good enough for me.

I think it is wrong and should be left alone.
Anyway just my thoughts.

regards
v/man:)

So basically, they make artificial pigs because pig farts are ruining the ozone? C'Mon, gimmee a break. That's a lame excuse through the red tape.

Now, as for world hunger, that will never go away just like poverty. I am all for feeding people, but not at the expense of possible bio meltdown. Like my mamma always said, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Just my 2c

I'm fine with the idea of genetically engineered bacon as long as the FDA spends some time researching it to make sure it's not going to cause me to sprout another head or something.As far as pollution problems caused by pig sh!t,I think that's probably a pretty small portion of the problem in this world.It sounds like more of a statement to appease animal rights activists.You might think different when driving past a pig farm though,because I've gagged more than once from that smell.

Life is a delicate balance, and we only mess that up when we mess with stuff like genetic altering. I'm all for using science to advance things, but not when it interferes with the course of nature.

albn > i like that quote man, never heard it before, but definately cool, and it makes sense

This type of thing could change the human race as we know it. We will not know the true impact of genetically altered food and crops for the next 50 years or so. We have NO idea how it really impacts the growth of children or the affects on the elderly.

They don't really know if the changes in the genetic structure affect DNA yet or not. They are bulldozing this through the FDA and Congress because there is a LOT of money to be made in it, and well money makes the world go around.

I will not eat genetically altered foods of any time if I can help it. I'm already convinced that some of the preservatives that we use can and do accelerate the growth of certian cancers, so there is no telling what this stuff is really going to do to you. These foods were made the way they were for a reason and tampering with it could have disasterous affects on us.




El Diablo

I"ll bet if you were from a starving poverty ridden part of the world and had to watch your babies die you'd eat this faster than you could say Jack Sprat and thank God for decent food I agree it should be refined and tested first. But aren't computers, vaccines, etc, etc interfering with "the naturel way". I have worked with the poor and disabled and have seen how grateful they are for what you and I take for granted. Auntie

I wonder if we can apply this technology to reduce the stink generated by all the bullshit on Capitol Hill. Genetically engineered congressmen "born" without the ability to lie would make a convincing arguement in favor of human cloning. ;)

Allen, a politician who can't lie can't be a politician.

As for the pigs, I kind of agree that God did what He did for a reason and we ought to let nature alone. You can't mess with Mother Nature without some kind of consequence.

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Originally posted here by auntie
But aren't computers, vaccines, etc, etc interfering with "the naturel way". I have worked with the poor and disabled and have seen how grateful they are for what you and I take for granted. Auntie

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ok, computers aren't interfering with the natural order of things because they don't directly affect the DNA structure or our immune system. Now vaccines ARE affecting the natural order, as are antibiotics, and this can be readily seen in the sudden increase in "killer" infections and drug resistant viruses. Staph is a fairly common virus within a hospital environment, and has been easily countered by antibiotics, but in the past couple of years we have seen a significant rise in drug resistant strains of staph which at this point are not defeatable by drugs. Sure, the pharmaceutical companies are working on newer drugs, but this just perpetuates the problem that we are just now starting to see.

This whole problem started about 60-70 years ago with the mandation of vaccines and antibodies for just about everything. We are now starting to see the pay off from that. This is my concern for genetically altered foods and crops. We won't know what is really happening until about 50 years from now.

One thing you WILL see though is that most doctors are not prescribing antibiotics for just about everything now. They are starting to realize that it was a mistake to do it in the first place, but I believe it may be a case of too little too late.




El Diablo

I lived as a young girl in a generation that saw the national epidemic of polio. When we (my family) went to visit relatives in the south we avoided many, many town that had widespread outbreaks of polio and we just kept on going. I have friends who died or became permanenetly disabled because of this problem. I think this is a disease that many of you don't even have to think about. nothing in life is without risk. I think food that is sold as genetically modified should be labeled as such and the consumer can decide for himself.

I lived as a young girl in a generation that saw the national epidemic of polio. When we (my family) went to visit relatives in the south we avoided many, many town that had widespread outbreaks of polio and we just kept on going. I have friends who died or became permanenetly disabled because of this problem. I think this is a disease that many of you don't even have to think about. nothing in life is without risk. I think food that is sold as genetically modified should be labeled as such and the consumer can decide for himself. Auntie

Pigs evolved to have high-phosphorus poop for a reason. It's people trying to introduce pig populations (and expand them) into areas which don't have the appropriate ecosystem that causes problems. That, and we're defending them from natural predators, etc etc etc...

I'm not sure about the implementation or use of these livestock breeds, but I strongly support mandatory labeling of foods which have 'enhanced' components.

This is a tricky one... I for one would eat "enhanced" foods if they were tested and proven safe... Most of us that have ever grown our vegitable garden have eaten "hybrid" foods... Most seeds that you get now a days are of the hybrid type... They are enginered to be more resistant to disease etc... And like I, believe Auntie said, those in poorer countries would not argue if they were given "enhanced" foods...

OK maybe I am dense but we seem to have a non-argument being used to bolster the FRP's (Fart Reduced Pigs). This has nothing to do with the genetic manipulation but the theory that this will solve world hunger. Nothing in the article says the FRP's breed faster, grow faster, or produce more meat. Even the other genetic animals still take the same time to grow, consume the same amount of feed they just have some "advantages" given to them.

From what I can tell genetic alteration's goal is not much different than selective breeding. No one would argue that pigs who were bred to be FRP's were ok. However, selective breeding still uses natural methods and takes out human error. The changes are produced through a number of generations where aberrations can be seen and monitored. Genetics, because it works so much faster, is potentially more productive and more dangerous. I am very glad the FDA is studying these things. I also feel that if they start using genetically altered meat they should clearly label it as such.

However, I must actually side with those who do not approve. We, as a society, are more in a rush for new foods, new medicines etc. This has led, in the past, to some health repurcussions we never could forsee. Breeding is slow but the errors have time to crop up. The very speed of genetics is its strength but for me it is also its downfall.

The final nail in the coffin, in this instance, is that it will do nothing for world hunger. It is supposedly going to do something for pollution in Minnesota but that does not affect starving people in Zimbabwe. Most countries would be much happier with high yield corn, rice, or potatos, and wheat. All of these have been created through breeding. They have also made strains that grow with low water needs, survive in high temperatures, low temperatures, short growing seasons etc. None of these have conquered world hunger but they have certainly done more than RFP's will.

ill be happy when they can just grow lean meat without it haveing to come from an animal. no farts no barnyard diseases and no slaughter.

i don't think meat thats the product of genetic manipulation can cause harm to those who eat it. its not like injecting animals with harmones or steroids. the genes of what you eat don't get passed on to you!

True... y'know, promoting livestock (especially cattle) as a cure for world hunger is sort of like promoting gasoline-powered-razor-style-scooters for the answer to mobility in impoverished areas... there are alternatives which are more efficient, cheaper, and much more environmentally friendly, even if they lose in the luxury department.

I agree with Terr completely, but I think since "us westerners"
can't stop eating animals, might as well make 'em pollute less.

And hey, you don't have to eat pig anyway, you'll probably
live longer and happier.