The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) and the Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB) will ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday for a collaborative research on meat production in the laboratory from cattle embryonic stem cells.
Bovine embryonic stem cells have the ability to transform into different types of cells (pluripotent) depending on the conditions provided. Taking advantage of this possibility, it is possible to produce meat in the laboratory from Bovine embryonic stem cells, the KLDB said in a statement.
“Laboratory-grown meat has been found to be safe to eat. After the necessary transformation of cattle embryonic stem cells, they will be grown in a laboratory bioreactor for four to six weeks to produce lab-grown meat,” the KLDB statement said.
Cattle embryos for the research will be supplied by KLDB. The proposed research at RGCB will be led by Debasree Dutta. The research project, whose duration is three years, is funded by the Department of Bio Technology, Government of India, Indian Council For Medical Research and the Science and Engineering Research Board.
The directors of RGCB and KLDB will exchabnge the MoUs in the presence of Minister for Animal Husbandry J. Chinchurani on Wednesday.
