I think folks are missing the point of this technology - this is designed for the animal agriculture industry to compete against synthetic meat, by streamlining the genetic engineering feedback loop, and the administration of hormones and antibiotics. Animal milk and meat production would thus be mechanised from cradle to grave.
We have been trying to engineer plant cells to be more like animals (eg Impossible Meats) but the solution might be to engineer cattle and swine to be more like plants (eg. minimise the growth of unnecessary biological components like bones, hoofs, brains, sensory organs).
The end point could basically be a semi-conscious 'animal', with food administered by stomache tube, suspended inside a barn, with sufficient brain material only to operate the digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems, and without eyes, reproductive organs, or ears. The lack of locomotion would also render the meat more tender.
It would be horrific, but probably more humane and efficient than our current system of factory farming and feedlots.
We have been trying to engineer plant cells to be more like animals (eg Impossible Meats) but the solution might be to engineer cattle and swine to be more like plants (eg. minimise the growth of unnecessary biological components like bones, hoofs, brains, sensory organs).
The end point could basically be a semi-conscious 'animal', with food administered by stomache tube, suspended inside a barn, with sufficient brain material only to operate the digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems, and without eyes, reproductive organs, or ears. The lack of locomotion would also render the meat more tender.
It would be horrific, but probably more humane and efficient than our current system of factory farming and feedlots.