On Mon, 7 Aug 2000 11:50:01 -0500, Ward Nicholson <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Half-plant/half-animal hybrids that >look like chickens or cows but have roots rather than feet? It's every >vegetarian's--probably even a few compassionate non-vegetarians'--worst >nightmare come true. And it could all happen soon thanks to >out-of-control biotech corporations if this report is to be believed. Ward, this is in the humor section, isn't it ("Back to Humor & Satire")? I confess, many years ago i thought it to be a goal, if "meat" could be "grown" in some sort of cultures handing at a supply of some sort (like apple-tree roots). T-bone apples?? ehhmm could the apple show muscles then? or jump around? Well, meanwhile I'd consider it a horror scenario of such a apple had genes which would make it to grow a cows muscle cells and cows structural fat. Because of the dangers of genetic "engeneering" (better try-and-error-ing). Like in the yellow rice with carotene genes. Why the heck do they experiment with such dangers instead of just planting a few carrots nearby??? Looking in detail at the nutrients of a T-bone steak or an apple i can only detect worsening than any move to the better. The only thing animal *muscle* has in advance of a plain apples (of the same tree-energy used) is vitamin b12. But vitamin b12 is made by bacteria in guts and on the surface of plants. It will not be increased in the t-bone-apple. And all that deletiorous beef fat would be re-engeneered? ok. ok. DHA is not in the t-bone steak analysis, just traces of AA. Maybe they would better "engeneer" all that vitamin constructing genes or thought-to-be vitamin substances like carnitin, taurin, long chain EFAs into the apple to create a supplement making plant. (double sense plant :-)). If you don't trust your body to synthesize it himself. Or if you plan to undermine its synthesizing capabilities by oversupplying storage fats (in relation to simple EFAs). Or trans-fats or other toxins (in the case of EPA/DHA). But it may be preferrable to eat fish oil capsules instead of an apples tasting fishy or t-boney. Please don't mind a short attack of humor after a serious theme. Thanks good this shurely all belongs to the satire section. yours Amadeus Schmidt