Science can do a lot of cool things through genetics, like study diseases, create new plants, and improve food quality and production. Now, scientists in China are using the same cutting-edge methods to create something basically no one needs: teacup pigs.
The pigs, who were originally bred as research animals, are now going to be sold as pets. A Shenzhen-based company called BGI has specially created the "teacup" breed. This new breed descends from the Bama pig, which weighs 70-100 pounds as an adult. But these genetically engineered descendants will only grow to be about 30 pounds.
To achieve this rather diminutive weight, researchers cloned pigs from the fetal cells of the original breed, while shutting down the genes that allow growth hormones to do their jobs. Then, these frankensteined pigs were bred with normal Brama pigs, to try to mitigate health problems. Their kids are the ones who will find their way to households in China, and perhaps further.
Although the pigs aren't available for purchase yet, BGI has estimated a price tag of $1,600 at first, which incidentally you could spend on this robot that can read human emotions, instead. Plus, then one of those emotions won't be "extreme buyer's remorse over getting a pet that burrows for truffles in your mattress." Oh, also, basically no vet will treat them.
Teacup pigs aren't an entirely new idea, but this is the first time scientists can actually pretty much guarantee your pig won't suddenly balloon out to be 600 pounds, as was the case in the past. Previously, farmers would take smaller breeds like potbellied pigs, sell them as babies, and instruct their guardians to feed them so little food, they would starve. Predictably, that would stunt their growth, and the emaciated pigs would stay small enough to sleep in your bed and dream of an actual meal.
But pigs are good at demanding food, and many grew to their actual natural weight. All of a sudden, people were waking up with 150 pound pigs next to them. This bait-and-switch has caused a rash of pig dumping (not that kind) across the U.S. There's even one pig, named Esther, who has inspired her own Facebook page, then website, then sanctuary, after her two human dads discovered she wasn't meant to be 12 pounds, but rather more like 500 pounds.
So, the new pigs will stay tiny, the long-term health risks of which are as yet unknown. And, according to Nature, they will also be available in a range of colors and patterns, just like the teacups they're named after. Wouldn't you just love to have a family member you can customize like a laptop? So healthy.
Source: Nature
