Australian food firm creates giant woolly mammoth meatball. Yes, the same mammoth that went extinct

What's cooking? It's the meat of a wild, extinct animal that's over 5,000 years old. This response might surprise you, but it could soon become a reality. While some might be disgusted by the idea, some food enthusiasts might also be excited to try the meat of an extinct animal. 

On March 29, an Australian cultured meat startup, Vow, launched its completely lab-grown Wolly mammoth meat using its DNA. The meat, which smelled as described by the company, like crocodile meat (We don't know that smell either), was unrevealed at a science museum in Amsterdam.  

But how was it made?

To put it simply, Vow's chief scientific officer explains their work is very similar to what the scientists were doing in Jurassic Park. (We hope he was kidding because we know how that movie went). 

Jokes aside, this meat, which is by the way not made for consumption (yet), was completely grown in a lab using the DNA information of the mammoth. 

• Vow discovered genetic data from the mammoth that was accessible to the public. This genetic information was obtained from remains that were discovered in the Arctic area.
• The meatball was made of sheep cells inserted with a singular mammoth gene called myoglobin. Myoglobin is responsible for the aroma, the colour and the taste. 
• To complete any missing genetic information from the mammoth, Vow used genetic data from the African elephant, which is the closest living relative of the mammoth. 
• The company also claims to grow animal cells from scratch, so that they harm no animals, during their process of meat production.

Lab-grown meat is made by taking cells from an animal and growing them in a lab. This can reduce environmental harm and animal cruelty associated with traditional meat production. It is still new and has challenges but has gained interest and has also faced a little flak. Vow also claims to do the same thing, and claims that the brand harms no one. 

The concept of culturally lab-grown chicken meat or vegan chicken is something that non-vegetarians are still adjusting to claiming that it ruins chicken or meat for everyone. 

Will you eat this meat if given a chance? 

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