Posted on 10/24/2017 1:24:17 PM PDT by Red Badger
For people who love bacon but hate everything it does to their diet, scientists in China may have created a way to have your pig and eat it too. A team of researchers have genetically altered pigs to carry nearly 24 percent less body fat.
Using the CRISPR-Cas 9 gene editing technique, the team reportedly modified a group of pigs which gave birth to much leaner piglets. The experiment, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), is looking to make pigs less susceptible to the cold. Scientists noted that modern pigs, especially younger ones, lack the ability to deal with colder temperatures and build up unhealthy levels of fat. The researchers added that the change could create a huge savings for the pig farming industry.
Jianguo Zhoa, one of the Chinese scientists leading the research, added that he doubts the taste of the genetically modified pigs would be any different from normal ones.
Chinese scientists have created low-fat pigs with #CRISPR. They stay warmer and are cheaper to care for. Via @NPR https://t.co/Re6GNuaYGZ pic.twitter.com/urcMhq1z9j
— RealClearScience (@RCScience) October 24, 2017
The weakness in regular pigs stems from the animal’s lack of the UPC1 gene, which regulates body temperature and is found in most other animals. The experiment added a version of the gene to the embryos of the group of pigs. Their offspring, 12 male piglets, all reportedly had much better tolerance for the cold than their parents did.
“It demonstrates a way that you can improve the welfare of animals at the same as also improving the product from those animals — the meat,” University of Missouri professor R. Michael Roberts told NPR. Although the genetic breakthrough may eventually mean leaner bacon in China, Roberts added that FDA regulations in the U.S. will likely keep the pigs out of America for the moment.
Low fat bacon?
No THANK you!
Animal fat is where the flavor is.
It’s not ‘No Fat’, just lower fat!
Leaner bacon!................
True, but lower fat means leaner meat!................
Tastes like tofu
The Heritage pig breeds in our country are popping up everywhere. We are going in the opposite direction. Pork fat is good for you. Read Fat the book.
instead of genetically altering the pigs, why not just feed them accordingly to not have them gain so much fat and or have them be more active rather than small pen/cage to whatever they usually do for mass produced pigs?
plenty of ways other than messing up genetics since that usually leads to other problems for the animal and those who consume it.
What are you supposed to fry your eggs in?
Whenever I see the words “low fat” on ANYTHING I run the other way!
Just like they ruined marbling in beef. It’s fat that gives meat the great taste and tenderness.
If low-fat, low-flavor meat is your thing you could buy turkey bacon.
Our ancestors ate lots of pork belly and lardo (cured backfat) and weren’t obese.
RE: Heritage breeds, there’s a farmer near here that raises Red Wattle Hogs. They’re a high fat breed and the chops on them are nearly as marbled as USDA Choice strip steaks. I made one for the wife on my pellet grill and she was blown away. Tender, juicy, with great flavor. Very expensive though so we don’t get them often.
I bought an entire uncured ham from them twice and brined and smoked them myself. DELICIOUS! If you’ve never made your own ham you should try it. It’s easy and you’ll wonder why you’ve never done it before.
Funny how globalists are all actually isolationists.
I agree-—without the fat it wouldn’t be worth cooking-——and what would I fry my eggs in?
.
US pork has been trending leaner, drier and blander for several decades now. I’m surprised there are enough people who want this.
Just come to Texas and shoot a couple of hogs. Wild hogs are gooood. Lean meat but not too lean. There is no secret to lean pigs. Just stop feeding them so much corn.
What could go wrong?
Claimed Low Fat Pig was actually an alias, along with Sum Ting Wong and Wee Too Low.
Ho Lee Fook!..................
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