Re: funky genetically-engineered chickens

Sayke@aol.com
Sun, 14 Mar 1999 16:05:11 EST

In a message dated 3/14/99 0:40:28 AM PST, havard@earthlink.net writes:

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_295000/295277.stm
> US scientists have genetically-engineered chickens to grow basic "legs"
> instead of wings.
> Researchers at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, took a gene
> normally found only in chicken legs and transferred it to the forming wings
> of chick embryos.

for one thing, im fairly sure that this isnt particularly comfy, from the chickens POV. is that relevent? do chickens have rights, from an extropian POV? if they dont, and our desire for chicken legs causes us to grow chickens that are really just masses of legs, where do we stop? should we? cows that are really just massive mammeries would be... interisting. what about pigs that have asses the size of a buick? wouldnt run outa ham for a while...

basicly, im just wondering about the lists opinion on the ethics of this, and indeed, if theres even grounds for a problem.

"suspicion breeds confidence. paranoia is the path to enlightenment. fnord!"

sayke (who is waiting for the discovery of the gene sequence responsible for the growth of infrared sensors in pit vipers. wheee a couple of those babies woud kick ass... who needs nightvision goggles when youve got the same thing built into your head?)