Stem Cell Steak - Term Paper Example

? Stem Cell Steak Introduction Greenhouses gases emissions coupled with food agencies forecast that global meat demands will increase creates serious issues for humanity. 80% of global farmland is devoted to livestock farming, and cattle consume a significant percentage of global fresh water. These methods of meat production are costly and almost unsustainable. This fact points to the need for development of alternative meat production methods (Humans Invent, 2011). Stem cell meat production conceived in 1960s can serve as the alternative to livestock farming. Embryonic stem cells derived from animals have a high potential for large scale production of laboratory meat. These cells have unique and extraordinary characteristics of replication and growth. The cells replicate and grow numerous times to specialised muscle cells. These cells can grow to strips and then steak (Humans Invent, 2011). However, controlling and manipulating stem cells is problematic. Professor Mark Post who recently received 300,000 Euros for his project in stem cell meat production uses Myosatellite, used in repairing injured muscle cells. The Myosatellite cells develop to muscle cells in an environment that is easy to control (Humans Invent, 2011). The cells need exercise for them to grow. Electric shock has been used previously, but Professor Post uses Pieces of Velcro to enhance growth. These pieces enable the cells to exercise independently by providing resistance and tension as the cells contract naturally facilitating growth and the addition of bulk. Within few weeks, the cells develop to strips that are 3cm long (Humans Invent, 2011). Funding and inadequate research are challenges that face this new research era. Stem cell meat production requires enormous funding from governments and agencies. It also requires research in order to have better methods of production. The stem cells do not grow big because the centre of the strips does not access nutrients and oxygen. This requires research for better methods of delivery (Humans Invent, 2011). Conclusion The costly production and environmental impact disadvantage livestock farming. People have also continuously become dissatisfied by the standards of meat production. For livestock farming to maintain its potential, it needs to be efficient, reduce emissions, sustainable and benefit the environment while feeding the growing population. Reference Humans Invent. (2011). Stem Cell Steak: Growing Your Own Meat. Retrieved from http://www.humansinvent.com Introduction The idea of stem cell steak first came into the limelight in mid-20th century; however, the researchers faced financial constraints. Dr. van Eelen faced financial constraints in developing stem cell meat until he was granted funding and a patent for his idea. NASA took the lead from van Eelen in 2002 with the funding of Dr. Morris Benjaminson to explore for possible creation of stem cell meat. The idea was to provide food for astronauts on space trips. Dr. Benjaminson extracted a muscle cell sample from goldfish and propagated it from the body of the fish (Humans Invent, 2011). Stem cell steak production is a new area in research that seeks to diversify sources of beef. Professor Mark post recently received the highest funding for stem cell meat production. He received 300,000 Euros for the purposes of developing a hamburger that lacked animal meat. The professor leads in the new research of in-vitro meat that if successful could eliminate the need for slaughtering animals. The professor aims to change meat production to a factory process (Humans Invent, 2011). Stem cells have extraordinary and unique characteristics. These cells can replicate and split severally into muscle cells. The specialised cells then grow into strips through replication and eventually into steak. The embryonic stem cells derived from animals have immense possibilities of producing enormous quantities of steak. However, the process of controlling and manipulating embryonic stem cells is challenging (Humans Invent, 2011). Scientists have cultivated stem cells in rats, mice and humans. However, stem cell cultivation of pigs and cow is extremely complicated. Professor Post uses Myosatellites used in repairing muscle tissues. These cells are easier to control during development. The cells need regular exercise for them to develop. Some researchers use minute electric shock to stimulate cell growth. Professor post uses Pieces of Velcro for enabling the cells to exercise independently. These pieces create tension and resistance as the cells contract naturally. This then stimulates the addition of bulk and cell growth (Humans Invent, 2011). Conclusion Because of lack of techniques for availing oxygen and nutrients to the centre of the growing strips, it is difficult to grow them any bigger than 3cm long. However, scientists hope that research and technology will make it possible to avail oxygen and nutrients adequately to the strips. Stem cell steak could help in reducing carbon footprints from livestock farming. Reference Humans Invent. (2011). Stem Cell Steak: Growing Your Own Meat. Retrieved from http://www.humansinvent.com Introduction Professor Mark Post recently received 300,000 Euros financial grant for research and development of stem cell steak. He leads in the new research era of creating in-vitro meat that once successful could eliminate the need for slaughtering livestock (Humans Invent, 2011). The professor seeks to change meat production from farming to a manufacturing process. Stem cells possess extraordinary and unique properties. That is the cells can rapidly replicate and split to specialised cells, which can grow to strips and eventually to steak. Embryonic stem cells taken from animals have the greatest potential for large scale production of meat. Because of the difficulties and complexities of controlling and manipulating the cells, Professor Post uses Myosatellite cells in his project (Humans Invent, 2011). These cells extracted from animals develop into muscle cells in an easily controlled manner. The muscle cells require regular exercise for them to develop. Electric shock techniques are used, but Post uses Pieces of Velcro in his research. These pieces create resistance and tension as the cells contract naturally. It in turn, stimulates cell growth and bulk addition (Humans Invent, 2011). One challenge of this process of meat production is that there are no means for availing nutrients and oxygen to the centre of the growing strips. As a result, the strips cannot grow to big pieces of meat. Therefore, research is required on better delivery of these two components to the strips to ensure maximum growth (Humans Invent, 2011). Conclusion Stem cell meat production could significantly reduce greenhouse gases emissions from livestock farming. The manner of traditional meat production could drastically improve with large scale production of stem cell steak. The availability of finances is the greatest challenge to this new era production and research. Reference Humans Invent. (2011). Stem Cell Steak: Growing Your Own Meat. Retrieved from http://www.humansinvent.com Introduction Stem cells have extraordinary and unique capabilities. These cells replicate and split numerous times into specialised cells such as muscle cells. The specialised cells grow to strips and finally to steak (Humans Invent, 2011). Embryonic stem cells derived from animals have immense potentials in the production of laboratory meat. Stem cell steak production ideas were developed in the 20th century. Various scientists had the idea but lacked financial capabilities for proceeding with the actual production. Dr van Eelen struggled in developing a process for stem cell steak production until 1999 when he secured a patent and funding for his project (Humans Invent, 2011). NASA followed in 2002 with the funding of Dr. Morris Benjaminson to develop stem cell steak for feeding exploring astronauts. Professor Mark Post recently secured 300,000 Euros for his stem cell production of hamburger. This is perhaps the highest funding in recent times (Humans Invent, 2011). In his project, Professor Post uses Myosatellites which are cells that are easy to control as they grow. Stem cells from animals are problematic in manipulation and control. Myosatellite normally used in repairing muscle tissues develop into muscle cells. This muscle cells need regular exercise for growth. In his project, Professor Post uses Pieces of Velcro for purposes of exercising the cells. These pieces provide resistance as the cells contract naturally and stimulate the growth of the cells. Within weeks, the cells grow to strips with a thickness of at least 3cm (Humans Invent, 2011). Conclusion There exist challenges in growing stem cell steak. These include lack of funding and effective technological research. Stem cell meat production requires enormous amounts of funding. This is the reason only few researchers with an agency or government funding are able to carry out the projects. Stem cell strips of meat do not grow big because the centre of the strip lacks nutrient and oxygen delivery. There needs to be research into effective ways of delivery the two components to the strip to ensure maximum growth. Reference Humans Invent. (2011). Stem Cell Steak: Growing Your Own Meat. Retrieved from http://www.humansinvent.com Read More