Scientists create mammoth meatball from DNA
The world's first mammoth meatball, made from the extinct giant's DNA, has been unveiled at Nemo Science museum in Amsterdam.
The unusual delicacy was created as part of a scientific experiment using advanced molecular engineering by Australian cultured meat company Vow and a team of international experts to demonstrate the potential of cultured meat to revolutionise the food industry.
Using new and innovative technology, the mammoth meatball was created from the DNA of the extinct woolly mammoth and completed with fragments of African elephant DNA - the mammoth's closest living relative.
James Ryall, Vow's Chief Scientific Officer, said: "What's truly exciting about this project is the ability to create a protein that hasn't existed in thousands of years. Cultivated meat allows us to push the boundaries of culinary innovation and create entirely new food experiences. Rather than simply replicating existing products, this technology offers us the opportunity to create something truly unique and better."
The meatball concept was initiated by creative disruptor Bas Korsten, Chief Creative Officer at global creative agency Wunderman Thompson.
He explained: "The Mammoth Meatball shows the world that when technology meets creativity it can change our future. Our aim is to start a conversation about how we eat, and what the future alternatives can look and taste like. Cultured Meat is meat, but not as we know it. It's the future."
Unlike most other cultivated meat startups, Vow is using its molecular technology to create new products that go beyond replicating existing pieces of meat. By working with a team of scientists, chefs, and creators, it is exploring new flavours, textures, and nutritional benefits that have never been seen before.
The company will be launching their first brand, Forged by Vow, in Singapore later this year.
