Genetically engineer cows to not feel pain?

[Indrajala]

We are most likely stuck with factory farms, given that they produce most of the beef and pork Americans consume. But it is still possible to reduce the animals’ discomfort — through neuroscience. Recent advances suggest it may soon be possible to genetically engineer livestock so that they suffer much less.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/19/opini ... river.html

I find this extremely disturbing -- that educated people, the leaders of society, would devote time to genetically warping animals to not feel pain to support the gluttony of humanity.

[catmoon]

Uh, wouldn't the absence of pain lead to leprous lesions?

[kirtu]

Uh, wouldn't the absence of pain lead to leprous lesions?

Why would that be?

Kirt

[DharmaKitty]

Uh, wouldn't the absence of pain lead to leprous lesions?

Why would that be?

Kirt

I'm not sure about the lesions but I do know that pain is the bodies way of telling us, and animals, that something is wrong, and if we don't have that I believe it will cause a host of other problems! The whole idea is astonishing!

[ball-of-string]

When will silly humans learn that the more they tinker with the genetics of the food they eat, the more they are causing problems for themselves.

[catmoon]

The lesions common to leprosy are an indirect result of the loss of the ability to feel pain. For instance the hands get bruised pounded cut and burned. But the owner feels nothing and tends to do nothing about the injury, and then decay sets in.

[kirtu]

The lesions common to leprosy are an indirect result of the loss of the ability to feel pain. For instance the hands get bruised pounded cut and burned. But the owner feels nothing and tends to do nothing about the injury, and then decay sets in.

WOW! Bad news. Of course it's a bad idea anyway.

Kirt