Artificial Meat Production
Slab exercise framework
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Artificial Meat ProductionSlab exercise framework |
Food
production takes many forms, from
nanosynthesis (which is costly in energy and information use if done
well, and if done badly can produce appalling results) to hydroponic
and aeroponic
agriculture. Advanced biosynthesis of all forms of food using bioforge
technology is available in many medium to high tech societies. And
thanks to geneering the range of plant-grown
food products is very high, including genetically engineered meatplants
(for instance the hambush),
but in many locations there is great demand for animal derived meat.
Raising animals for meat production is an ancient form of farming,
which on a Gaian
type world or habitable megastructure may occur on
rich pasture land or utilise otherwise marginal land through
area-extensive pastoral techniques. However on smaller worlds, and in
domed colonies and rotating habitats, and within closed environments
such as worldships, there is rarely enough room for free range animal
husbandry. Meat production generally uses more energy input to produce
a given amount of consumable food than other forms of agriculture,
although the meat products produced have very high nutritional value.
Genetically engineered, low maintenance food animals have been
available since the Interplanetary age, some descended from the
original Mambo Chickens and Squarepigs developed by the Genetekkers
in
the old Solar System. These creatures are almost always entirely
sessile, and almost completely fill their containment pens when adult.
Some are segmented or capable of regenerating removed limbs or other
body parts, thereby prolonging the productive life of the animal. Such
food animals are generally well cared for and content, often because
they have been designed to integrate with their pens and support
systems both physically and mentally. Some cultures prefer meat from
geneered food animals, and this form of meat production is quite
widespread, especially among Genen clades; but the production of
cultured or vat-grown artificial meat is much more common throughout
the civilized galaxy.
Vat-grown, or printed, meat products are produced using the same basic
techniques as other forms of printed tissue culture. Tissue engineering
of this type was first developed for medical use in the production of
autologous tissue for organ replacement. However this sort of tissue
culture was soon found to be useful for the direct production of meat
for food on spacecraft and habitats in deep space.
To achieve the goal of meat production, muscle and other flesh cells
are grown on a specially constructed biopolymer scaffold, which
replicates the natural extracellular matrix found in living animals.
This scaffold is generally printed using a rapid 3d printer device,
although several other related techniques such as foaming and
self-assembly are also used. Cultured cells are then implanted into the
scaffolding, and these cells are induced to bind together into
muscle-like or vascular tissue. Once the meat block, known as `slab',
is established, the tissue is supplied with nutrients and allowed to
grow by as much as 400% by volume before harvesting. To ensure the slab
has a healthy texture it is stimulated into regular contractions,
simulating exercise; the slab is attached at each end to strain gauges
to measure the force of contraction. Each slab is connected to a
generous supply of nutrient fluid often closely resembling blood.
As well as beef, pork, chicken and lamb slab, many other meats are
grown including llama, kangaroo, horse, elephant, whale and pheasant.
Reptile, amphibian and fish slabs are popular, as are various
invertebrate tissue cultures. These cold-blooded meats use less overall
energy input to produce than warm blooded varieties.
More exotic meats such as geneered sea-dragon, pterodactyl and selected
xenofauna are well-established speciality products, and premarinated
flesh is becoming increasingly popular. Cloned human flesh is sometimes
available, particularly personalised meat for autophagists and the well
known range of Klown Klone products which allow the consumer to eat the
celebrity of their choice.
