Jello Made From Humans

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Jello Made From Humans Is Not As Weird As It Sounds

What’s the News: Several days ago, a tasty tidbit hit the science blogosphere: writing in a journal of the American Chemical Society, scientists reported the successful production of gelatin from human proteins.

Understandably, the verdict of the crowd was, “Groooooosss!” The details of the experiment were dutifully reported—the human gene for collagen, the protein in skin and bones that makes up gelatin, was inserted into a yeast, which then cranked it out, along with the help of certain enzymes—but its purpose was sometimes glossed over in favor of giant images of quivering dessert. Like the one above. Yum.

So why use human genes to make gelatin?

Short version?

Regular gelatin (made from animals) can cause immune reactions in humans, is not as "reliable" as custom-made gelatin was/is and there are concerns about other health issues related to animal based gelatin that "designer gelatin" made like this, does not have.

Then the question is why do we need gelatin?

[Slogo]

[~Tszura~]

@Slogo: LOL!!

Eating a hot dog is way worse than this! lol

For those getting grossed out by this, I'm sure they would still take someone's blood, or organs if they needed a transfusion/transplant. While I'm not grossed out by that, if we're putting things in a "gross" meter, having someone's body parts living inside me is way worse than eating some tissue.

And on the extreme end, there is enough food in the world (though access and distribution are factors) that I'm hoping I'd never have to, but if I end up in some messed up Twilight Zone kind of situation where I have to eat someone to survive, please note that I will be munching Donner party style. I wouldn't off someone to eat them, but if they're dead already, and I have to survive, well........ you know. AND I would expect others to do the same with my body If I'm dead and there's any hope of living another day.

Jello anyone??

[*Siren*]

Why did I have to click on this while eating lunch?

[Onyx]

We are all suffering the effects of eating too much processed food anyway. Gelatin isn't needed. yukky!

I want to eat as close to organic, basic, real, tasty non-genetically-modified food as I can get.

[Simon Bar Sinister]

don't even wanna know what's in the human jello shots!

[Shaun]

Hmmmm, sounds tasty

[n0Mad]

I don't like any sort of gelatin to begin with.

[taysteewonderbunny]

I'm sure it has its uses in bone and cartilage regenerative therapies. I don't think anyone seriously posits its use for consumption. Here's the thing, though, since a) it's nearly indistinguishable from gelatins of other closely related animals, and b) it isn't actually part of another functioning being, what are the real moral constraints against its consumption? I think only association makes it seem like cannibalism--not actual fact.

[taysteewonderbunny]

Ew! This just in....human Jello! Since 1958!

[LadyKay]

Nope, sorry, I am not eating that! I don't even like jello all that much.

[taysteewonderbunny]

Ew! This just in....human Jello! Since 1958!

Wow, seriously? No one got that? It's Jello Biafra, people.