# Cultivated Ice Age Meatballs Vow's Mammoth Meatballs Show the Potential of Cultivated Meat By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2023-03-30 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mammoth-meatballs References: [foodandwine](https://www.foodandwine.com/meatball-created-using-extinct-mammoth-meat-7372775) & [peppou.medium](https://peppou.medium.com/why-we-made-a-mammoth-meatball-e53ac4c95e46)  Cultivated meat company [Vow](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultivated-quail) debuted an oversized mammoth meatball at a museum in the Netherlands to show the potential for [lab-grown meat](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultivated-meats) to revive long-extinct species. The creation of the Ice Age appetizer began with identifying the gene sequence involved in a mammoth's myoglobin, a protein found in muscle cells. As James Ryall, Vow's Chief Scientific Officer, told Reuters, "When it comes to meat, myoglobin is responsible for the aroma, the color and the taste." Since there are a number of gaps in the genetic code, Vow used gene sequences from the African elephant and implanted stem cells from sheep to grow the mammoth meatball. Originally, Vow's intended to create lab-grown dodo meat but the bird has been extinct for so long, its genetic information isn't available. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.3/10 - Popularity: 32% | Activity: 51% | Freshness: 15% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Cultivated Meat:** The growing demand for sustainable and ethical meat products may lead to more companies investing in cultivated meat technology. - **Reviving Extinct Species:** Advancements in gene sequencing and stem cell research may lead to the revival of other extinct animal species through lab-grown meat. - **Alternative Protein Sources:** Cultivated meat serves as an alternative protein source that can reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture. ### Where This Applies - **Food and Beverage:** The food and beverage industry can benefit from investing in cultivated meat technology, meeting the increasing demand for sustainable and ethical meat products. - **Biotechnology:** Biotechnology research and development can lead to more breakthroughs in gene sequencing and stem cell research for future lab-grown meat products. - **Environmental Sustainability:** Cultivated meat technology can be used as an innovative solution to reduce the environmental impact of animal agriculture, creating new opportunities for sustainable and environmentally conscious industries. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cultivated Lamb Kebabs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultivated-lamb.md) - [Cultivated Fish Balls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fish-balls.md) - [Cultivated Beef Tastings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultivated-beef-tasting.md) - [Cultivated Cubed Steaks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultivated-cubed-steak.md) - [Printed Cultivated Meat Steaks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultivated-steak.md) - [Cell-Cultured Pork Sausages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meatable.md) - [Cultivated Meat Tasting Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultivated-meat-tasting-menu.md) - [Marbled Cultivated Pork Loins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultivated-pork-loin.md) - [Cultivated Pork Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultivated-pork.md)