Thursday, August 25, 2011

Department of Story Ideas: The Meat-Eaters

The Inspiration:
A conversation over lunch during which someone mentioned ongoing efforts to create lab-grown meat. Apparently, it needs to be kept moving by the application of electrical shocks in order to develop properly. You see where I am going with this.

The Story:
As above, with some minor variations. Rather than using muscle cells directly from domestic pigs, the researchers choose a hardier variety of wild boar, genetically crossed with goose for flavor. In addition to the electricity the pieces of meat are given rudimentary nerve systems to increase their mobility and improve their texture and the ability to digest a variety of food sources so that manufacturers can alter the feed according to material prices. Everything is going great, until one night, when the power goes out to the feeding tanks and the meat gets hungry. . .

The Pitch:
It's Jurassic Park meets bacon.

The Tagline:
"Dinner is coming. . . for you!"

3 comments:

Karen Murphy said...

Is there some way that you could tie this in?
http://www.horseshoecrab.org/med/med.html

Cornelia Read said...

Gives a whole new meaning to "breakfast of champions."

Daisy Bateman said...

Karen-- I don't know, that sounds more like a sequel to me.

Cornelia-- The Food that Gets You Going! Until it eats your feet.