Is it edible?

One of the most fascinating things about science and technology for me is that by its very nature, it will always challenge our preconceived notions and that which we for whatever reason hold to be absolute.  In fact, this is perhaps the single unique difference between religion and science.  While many can say that an adherence to science and scientific fact is a world-view like any religious world-view and therefore the same, this is the crucial difference.  Religion teaches many things to be completely outside the realm of debate, no matter what the new information may be.  Science on the other hand continues to challenge itself and always keeps itself open to changing what it may have just a short while back held to be a fundamental pillar.

So, science has allowed a debate on another one of my favorite topics - vegetarianism.  By now, you surely have read about the lab grown burger that was sampled recently (BBC).  While this specific burger did not follow the following completely, the basic idea is that one uses stem cells from a cow (without killing it importantly) and then gets those stem cells to grow into muscle and fat in a lab.  Voila, one gets a hunk of meat without killing the cow.  Though still a long way off, one can imagine this being done in the future for a full steak, chicken wings (with bone and all), and maybe complete organs (monkey brain anyone?).  So a question I posed myself is - would I eat one?

To me, there are four reasons why someone may be a vegetarian (there may be others).

1. To not unnecessarily terminate the life of an animal, especially to only obtain a momentary pleasure at best.
2. For health reasons (their own, not the animals necessarily).
3. For the environment since it is well known that livestock production imposes significant stress on it.
4. Because they object to factory farming and the animal cruelty that comes with it.  While this is similar to 1, this group is not against humane breeding or slaughter or perhaps even hunting for meat, just not the way it is done today.

For me the primary reason why I am a vegetarian is animal rights, so reasons 1 and 4 above.  I am glad that side effects of my chosen lifestyle are benefits to my health and the environment, but the single biggest reason by far is I cannot justify killing and ending the life of a creature simply because my tongue craves the taste.

With this therefore, since the lab grown meat does not violate either reasons 1 or 4, I should be completely fine with eating it.  Actually it also does a pretty good job with #3 and can probably be tailored to make a good dent into #2.  But getting back to the fact that this burger will not cause a cow to die, it will satisfy my general condition for what I can and will not eat.  In fact, this is the reason why I am not objected to eating eggs or dairy since these products of animals caused them to work, but not die.  Full respect to the vegans out there, but I am comfortable with my justification.  The lab grown meat therefore will be no different (arguably much more humane) than milk or cheese or eggs.  

The truth is though that for me there is a fifth reason for being vegetarian, and that is I find it positively disgusting.  The thought that what I would put in my mouth was at some point blood, guts, and slimy bodily fluids makes meat in no way, shape, or form appealing.  It reminds me of road kill, no matter how nicely it may be served up on a plate or grocery store.  So for me, I will likely pass on the lab burger as it will continue to gross me out.  I just wont be able to argue against it.

All of this said, I truly believe that lab grown meat is not something we as a race should pursue or encourage.  We have screwed around enough with our food to the point where we are beginning to see negative effects.  Think for example of the number of food allergies we see today which until recently were unheard of.  I do not have scientific proof of this, but cannot help think that Genetically Modified plants do not have some relation.  It is only natural to think that once the basics of growing meat in a lab are common, there will be a push for modifications to boost production.  That is clearly going to be the push of market forces and it is near impossible to predict what the impacts of those are going to be.  We have no idea what effects such "meat" would have on us and is a dangerous path to venture.  The better path without a doubt is to simply stop eating animals.  It will be better for you, better for the environment, better for humankind, and most certainly better for the animals.