On Tuesday 28th March 2023, Australian startup Vow announced at the NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam that they have developed a lab-grown meatball using the genetic sequence of a mammoth.
The process involves using animal cells, known as cultivated, cultured, or cell-based meat, and avoids harm to livestock, making it an ethical and sustainable alternative.
To create the meatball, Vow used publicly available genetic information from the mammoth, supplemented with genetic information from its closest living relative, the African elephant.
The resulting genetic sequence was then inserted into a sheep cell, and under the right conditions, the cells multiplied to create enough material for the meatball.
Many companies globally are working on cultivated meat products, with over 100 startups developing alternative options for traditional meat production.
Experts predict that if the technology becomes widely adopted, it could significantly reduce the environmental impact of global meat production, which currently requires billions of acres of land worldwide.
While the idea of lab-grown meat may seem unappetizing to some, it presents an opportunity to address concerns about traditional meat production.
Vow’s announcement is the first of many from companies hoping to revolutionize the industry and offer consumers innovative and sustainable dietary options.
