Scientists create chickens with dinosaur features

[sauroid]

Hello, Jurassic Park?

http://rt.com/news/258393-chickens-dinosaurs-science-study/

[Tyto_Theropod]

Interesting, but it scares me that we not only have the ability to manipulate animals, but we do it. As I have said before, not so much 'Hello, Jurassic Park?' as 'Hello, Resident Evil?'... 

[CityRaptor]

Wouldn't that be more about Viruses...although I think that has been done, too.

[Halichoeres]

Interesting, but it scares me that we not only have the ability to manipulate animals, but we do it. As I have said before, not so much 'Hello, Jurassic Park?' as 'Hello, Resident Evil?'... 

They kind of gloss over this in the article, but I know the lead author of the study personally and I assure you that none of these things survives to adulthood. Most of them wouldn't even if they weren't, um, sacrificed on purpose.

[Doug Watson]

I am reminded of the time they tried to genetically alter chickens to have four legs so they could have more dark meat. They were successful, problem was no one could catch them.

I know it's an old one but I couldn't help it

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

I've always wondered, that since these scientists are manipulating chickens to have these features, why aren't there any photos of living, adult animals. I am not doubting their existence, but rather wondering why they aren't shown alive. Interesting study, though.

[Gwangi]

I've always wondered, that since these scientists are manipulating chickens to have these features, why aren't there any photos of living, adult animals. I am not doubting their existence, but rather wondering why they aren't shown alive. Interesting study, though.

It's an ethics issue. They destroy the animal when they're done with it. There are pictures of the skull though, side-by-side with a normal chicken and an alligator to illustrate what they've done. But the study is not to raise the animal, only to see if they can actually do what they're trying to do. It would probably die anyway, or have a poor quality of life. Even if they give a chicken a snout, it wouldn't know what to do with it. It's brain is still wired to peck at food with a beak.

[Halichoeres]

I've always wondered, that since these scientists are manipulating chickens to have these features, why aren't there any photos of living, adult animals. I am not doubting their existence, but rather wondering why they aren't shown alive. Interesting study, though.

It's an ethics issue. They destroy the animal when they're done with it. There are pictures of the skull though, side-by-side with a normal chicken and an alligator to illustrate what they've done. But the study is not to raise the animal, only to see if they can actually do what they're trying to do. It would probably die anyway, or have a poor quality of life. Even if they give a chicken a snout, it wouldn't know what to do with it. It's brain is still wired to peck at food with a beak.

Yup, and many of them die before hatching. Playing with the genes this way can break the other networks that they're involved in and result in incorrect formation of other parts of the anatomy.

[Dinomike]

Didn't they also manage to produce teeth on chicken by activating a certain gene? I remember watching a documentary recently.

[stargatedalek]

Didn't they also manage to produce teeth on chicken by activating a certain gene? I remember watching a documentary recently.

They have indeed and I believe this was done some time ago (assuming I recall correctly), and with somewhat less invasive manipulation (again, IIRC).

I am reminded of the time they tried to genetically alter chickens to have four legs so they could have more dark meat. They were successful, problem was no one could catch them.

I know it's an old one but I couldn't help it

An old one but a good one nonetheless!

[Tyto_Theropod]

I've always wondered, that since these scientists are manipulating chickens to have these features, why aren't there any photos of living, adult animals. I am not doubting their existence, but rather wondering why they aren't shown alive. Interesting study, though.

It's an ethics issue. They destroy the animal when they're done with it. There are pictures of the skull though, side-by-side with a normal chicken and an alligator to illustrate what they've done. But the study is not to raise the animal, only to see if they can actually do what they're trying to do. It would probably die anyway, or have a poor quality of life. Even if they give a chicken a snout, it wouldn't know what to do with it. It's brain is still wired to peck at food with a beak.

Yup, and many of them die before hatching. Playing with the genes this way can break the other networks that they're involved in and result in incorrect formation of other parts of the anatomy.

Many animal rights people would disagree (and indeed would disagree with the whole thing), but I agree that it is quite right to humanely destroy the embryos. Still, I think that from many points of view it was a worthwhile endeavour, because it's improving our understanding of how genes work - which in turn could go on to cure debilitating diseases or ease world food problems. BUT: I'm still uneasy at the extent to which humanity has become able to manipulate nature, because it could be used in very bad ways (designer pets, super soldiers, biological weapons...), and that's a scary thought. On the whole, though, I'm very interested in this kind of work, and I don't doubt that these people had a responsible attitude to what they were undertaking.

[Halichoeres]

Many animal rights people would disagree (and indeed would disagree with the whole thing), but I agree that it is quite right to humanely destroy the embryos. Still, I think that from many points of view it was a worthwhile endeavour, because it's improving our understanding of how genes work - which in turn could go on to cure debilitating diseases or ease world food problems. BUT: I'm still uneasy at the extent to which humanity has become able to manipulate nature, because it could be used in very bad ways (designer pets, super soldiers, biological weapons...), and that's a scary thought. On the whole, though, I'm very interested in this kind of work, and I don't doubt that these people had a responsible attitude to what they were undertaking.

For sure. The potential tactical applications are soooo far from their minds. It's more like, "LOOK HOW AWESOME YOU GUYS."

[tanystropheus]

I've always wondered, that since these scientists are manipulating chickens to have these features, why aren't there any photos of living, adult animals. I am not doubting their existence, but rather wondering why they aren't shown alive. Interesting study, though.

It's brain is still wired to peck at food with a beak.

I think it will adapt to circumstances.. 

[stargatedalek]

Chickens have shown themselves very capable of adapting to artificially added tails, so its possible they could manage it. I imagine it would still be a tough transition for those first few generations before the snout worked itself just right, perhaps it would be better to start with toothed bills than no bills.

[Gwangi]

I've always wondered, that since these scientists are manipulating chickens to have these features, why aren't there any photos of living, adult animals. I am not doubting their existence, but rather wondering why they aren't shown alive. Interesting study, though.

It's brain is still wired to peck at food with a beak.

I think it will adapt to circumstances.. 

Maybe, or maybe it would slowly starve to death. Who can say?

[Tyto_Theropod]

Chickens have shown themselves very capable of adapting to artificially added tails, so its possible they could manage it. I imagine it would still be a tough transition for those first few generations before the snout worked itself just right, perhaps it would be better to start with toothed bills than no bills.

True, but the snout in the pictures did look almost malformed, at least to me.