Electric Sheep, This Time with Real Sheep

frankbell · 04-30-2013, 10:00 AM

I saw this in the English language feed of Der Spiegel:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/a-896579.html

I am starting to wonder whether we are going to push the envelope until humanity falls right out of it into oblivion.

unSpawn · 04-30-2013, 12:07 PM

Well at least you know where to aim in poor light conditions :-]

JWJones · 04-30-2013, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbell

I am starting to wonder whether we are going to push the envelope until humanity falls right out of it into oblivion.

More than likely, yes. There seems to be much time and energy spent asking "Can we do this?" instead of "Should we do this?"

273 · 04-30-2013, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeofliberty

More than likely, yes. There seems to be much time and energy spent asking "Can we do this?" instead of "Should we do this?"

That's not really the motivation behind this though. Behind the headline-grabbing fun glow-in-the-dark sheep is the serious pursuit of discovering which genes do what and how and the potential to, for example, provide antibodies and other drugs from sheep's milk. The glow-in-the-dark is just a "hello world" or blinkenlight to check that the right piece of code is being edited.

frankbell · 04-30-2013, 08:10 PM

I don't discount honest scientific curiosity as the motive for this and for many, maybe most other such experiments, and I'm certainly not against research.

On the other hand, Monsanto.

JWJones · 04-30-2013, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbell

On the other hand, Monsanto.

Exactly.

kooru · 05-01-2013, 02:48 AM

Lol, just i read the title of this topic, I've thought about this book

273 · 05-01-2013, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbell

On the other hand, Monsanto.

Well, yes, I suppose we now have to wait for the stories of them letting these sheep out to breed with farmers' livestock then charging the farmers for each glowing sheep and sending them into bankruptcy.
It's a shame when research that could help feed the starving is used to steal from people instead with government complicity.

H_TeXMeX_H · 05-01-2013, 06:06 AM

If glowing wool clothing becomes a fashion trend, I think the value of glowing sheep will go up.

As for the ethical aspect ... the sheep are not harmed are they ? The glowing perhaps would make them more visible to predators tho. Surely, if they run away, they will be eaten.

brianL · 05-01-2013, 08:09 AM

Shine on, ewe crazy diamond.

JWJones · 05-01-2013, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kooru

Lol, just i read the title of this topic, I've thought about this book

Great book, as is the movie (Bladerunner) derived from it. And yes, the awesome screensaver is named after the Philip K. Dick book.

273 · 05-01-2013, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianL

Shine on, ewe crazy diamond.

Wool you behave, that joke's lambmentable.

brianL · 05-01-2013, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 273

Wool you behave, that joke's lambmentable.

Ewe're right, and I felt sheepish about posting it.

netcrawl · 05-01-2013, 11:33 AM

Posting baaaad jokes like that might get you lambasted by the mods.

Couldn't help meself, sorry.

kooru · 05-01-2013, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeofliberty

Great book, as is the movie (Bladerunner) derived from it. And yes, the awesome screensaver is named after the Philip K. Dick book.

Yes, really great book!