Australian firm creates mammoth DNA meatball to boost meat alternatives

Lab-grown mammoth meatball presented at Amsterdam museum

An Australian company, Vow, has created a mammoth meatball using the DNA of the extinct woolly mammoth. The meatball was presented at a science museum in Amsterdam and is not designed for consumption.

The meatball was created using “new and innovative technology” by combining sheep muscle cells with a tiny amount of mammoth DNA. The process used genetic information from the publicly available genome database and synthesized genes inserted into sheep muscle cells that were grown in a lab.

Raising awareness on sustainable food system

Vow’s goal in creating the mammoth-meatball is to promote cultured meat as an alternative to traditional animal agriculture. Advocates of cultured meat believe that it can reduce the need to slaughter animals for food while also fighting the climate crisis. The food system is responsible for about one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions mostly resulting from animal agriculture.

The company’s focus on raising public awareness and stimulating conversation about the potential of cultured meats prompted their use of “mammoth-meat,” which will draw attention to this critical goal.

Uncertainty over Mammoth Meat Idea

While there is evidence that ancient humans consumed mammoth meat, there is uncertainty over whether humans can stomach it due to its potential allergenicity.

The safety profile of lab-grown meat is still under study, so Vow is hesitant to offer mammoth-meat as a product since it’s not clear what the potential allergenicity might be.

Environmentally friendly alternative

On the contrast, lab-grown meats offer many benefits compared to traditional animal agriculture. Lab grown meat could be more nutritious, sustainable and affordable than traditional meats when produced at scale. They leave less of a carbon footprint by reducing greenhouse gas emissions massively.

Vow creates cultured meats by combining cells and micronutrients to form muscle, fat, and connective tissue. They aim to soon get regulatory approval in Singapore to sell lab-made quail meat they have developed.

Meatball added to a museum collection in the Netherlands

The gigantic meatball which weighs over 50 pounds was made as part of an art project challenging the public and the meat industry to think differently about how we produce and consume food. The uniqueness of the mammoth-meatball will make it a great addition to the collection at the Nemo Science Museum in the Netherlands.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Vow’s creation of a mammoth meatball using woolly mammoth DNA is an innovative approach to promoting cultured meat as an alternative to conventional animal agriculture. The company’s focus on stimulating conversation and raising awareness of sustainable food production is an essential step forward in creating a more sustainable future. The mammoth-meatballs are indeed, a striking statement challenging people to think differently about how we produce and consume food.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons