Next-Generation Gelatin Could be Derived from Humans Instead of Animals
Gelatins Allow Us to Bend Liquids to Our Will But is it a human touch, or a touch of human? nezume_you via FlickrMmmmmmm Something to reflect on over your lunch break today: Scientists are developing a new approach for producing human-derived gelatin in large enough quantities to be a commercially viable replacement for the animal-based gelatins used in all kinds of gelatin-like desserts, candies, and other foodstuffs as well as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Think about that next time you crack open a mid-afternoon pudding snack. Gelatin is used as a gelling agent in all kinds of things and is generally derived from the collagen in animal bones and skin (particularly cows and pigs). Broken down, it's just a mixture of peptides and proteins. But it's still derived from animals, which means there is a risk, however slight, that it could provoke immune system responses in humans or carry infectious diseases. Moreover,...