Free Beer in an Unfree World

For those who are feeling bleak about the economy and downright suicidal about how dumb the election has become, cheer up. Science—and better still, science with commercial applications—continues apace, making the world a better place. Popular Science reports that a bunch of college students and professors at Rice are working on genetically modified beer that lowers the risk of heart disease.

To create their BioBeer, the students are attempting to genetically alter a strain of yeast so that it produces resveratrol [a chemical present in wine that lowers the risk of heart disease and cancer] while also fermenting beer.

They plan to enter their brew, based on Houston's Saint Arnold wheat beer,  in the world’s largest synthetic biology competition: International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM), taking place November 8th and 9th in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

We should count ourselves lucky that these guys haven't taken their suds and gone gulching, since they're certainly laboring in an unfree world. To wit: 1) Most of the team is under 21, and therefore can't legally consume their scientific breakthrough, and 2) "Don’t start dreaming of BioBeer-filled games of beer pong or flip cup anytime soon. Until this team of young researchers eliminates all the additive 'marker' chemicals in their brew and the FDA approves, no one will be drinking a drop."

Via Instapundit

Comments

libertytexan | October 22, 2008, 7:40pm | #

Glad to see my alma mater doing things that matter

Kolohe | October 22, 2008, 7:49pm | #

Would it be Ricardo's rule that applies here? The one that infers that rather than trying to change (mediocre) beer to give it the advantages of wine, it's better to just drink (good) wine?*

Or maybe it's just that I don't like wheat beer.

*although there is this.

kinnath | October 22, 2008, 8:39pm | #

it's better to just drink (good) wine?

Hell Yes!

Doug | October 22, 2008, 9:18pm | #

Wheat beer? Couldn't they have chosen something much more drinkable, like motor oil?

Jay | October 22, 2008, 10:28pm | #

"a bunch of college students and professors at Rice are working on genetically modified "

I stopped reading here becuase there is no chance in hell the FDA approves this. All the major brewerys will bribe the mafia.

Jim Bob | October 23, 2008, 5:43am | #

For those who are feeling bleak about the economy and downright suicidal about how dumb the election has become, cheer up.

Can't. All hope is gone.

T | October 23, 2008, 7:36am | #

Hey, if this will help lower my cholesterol, I can learn to drink St. Arnold's generally mediocre beer. It beats the hell out of less red meat, oatmeal, and salad, which is my current tactic.

Bobby | October 23, 2008, 9:09am | #

Is it also genetically modified to prevent liver disease.

Guy Montag | October 23, 2008, 9:44am | #

I voted for Bob Barr and the Libertarian Senate candidate too. What do I have to be worried about with the election?

However, I do need to get my drinking in before I leave the country, so here is to free beer!

R C Dean | October 23, 2008, 10:27am | #

Wheat beer? Couldn't they have chosen something much more drinkable, like motor oil?

Philistine. A good hefe-weizen is on the short list of Good Things in Life.

Robert | October 23, 2008, 5:26pm | #

Not sure about Texas, but I'm guessing no law would be broken if they consumed beer they made. Or, if any of it was illegal, the illegal part would probably be their possessing it, not drinking it.

Robert