Scientists Are Growing Burgers From Stem Cells

The burger game is all about choices. In-N-Out or Shake Shack? Veggie or beef? Plant-based or lab-grown?

Yes, you heard that last one correctly. A team of Dutch scientists has grown the first burger ever made from stem cells and is looking to have it on the market in five years, the BBC reports.

A prototype of the burger — which cost £215,000 (about $332,700 USD) to create — was introduced two years ago at a news conference in London. Taste testers concluded that while it was very close to a burger, it lacked juiciness.

The stem cells are extracted from cow muscle tissue, so the burger is still indeed a beef burger. The BBC reports that the burger uses 45 percent less energy, 99 percent less land and produces 96 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

The scientists, who have formed a company called Mosa Meat, are developing a way to mass-produce the meat. The growing company plans to up its manpower to 25 scientists and has minced meat in the works that "is as tasty as the real thing," according to the BBC.

Mosa Meat is looking into utilizing 3-D printings of chops and steaks.