Glow-in-the-dark Porkers
Think the world is getting more surreal? You're right.
Check out the pig below, courtesty of Reuters. Under ultraviolet light, this pig's mouth, trotters, and toungue look fluourescent green. Not a problem if you're having bacon for breakfast. But I'm not sure I'd want to run into one a dark alley or on an Animal Farm.
How did they do it?
Scientists from the University of Harbin injected four embryonic pigs with a protein from jellyfish. Thus the term "transgenic," mixing genetic material from two differenct species. While this experiment is designed to produce and amusing and cute result, it probably signals the era of more genetic mixing and matching between species. And god only knows what that will produce.
More interesting and immediately relevant, perhaps, is this story about the discovery of stem cells in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women. Scientists believe the stem cells found in relatively abundant amniotic fluid possess the same properties as stem cells found in embryos. If so, it would be a big breakthrough, allowing less controversial exploration of the use of stem cells to repair damaged organs and tissue and fight degenerative diseases.
True, political parties would no longer be able to battle over the morality of state-funded research requiring stem-cells taken from aborted embryos. But we're sure politicians will find something else to be morally outraged about, like glow-in-the-dark pigs, for example.
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About the Author
Dan Denning is the author of 2005's best-selling The Bull Hunter (John Wiley & Sons). Dan draws on his network of global contacts from his base in Melbourne. He’s the managing editor of resource newsletter Diggers and Drillers and the editor of The Daily Reckoning Australia.