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posted by Fnord666 on Thursday February 01 2018, @10:33PM   Printer-friendly
from the more-methane-production dept.

Bill Gates has donated $40 million to Scottish researchers trying to create a cow that can thrive in hotter conditions, such as those in Africa:

Tweaking genes could be one way of increasing the hardiness of some livestock breeds. By isolating desirable genetics traits from European and African cow breeds, geneticists hope to design a cow that produces high quantities of milk and is also able to withstand exceptionally high temperatures.

An Edinburgh-based nonprofit, GALVmed (Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines) just received $40 million from Bill Gates to conduct genetic research with this aim in mind. "You can have a cow that is four times as productive with the same survivability," Gates told the Times.

The philanthropist told the BBC that he was investing in the nonprofit's research because "there is great [...] understanding here of both animal diseases and how we can treat it, and how we enhance the genetics so that you can get, say the same type of milk or egg productivity that we have in the U.K."

Related: Bill Gates Commits $100 Million to Alzheimer's Research
Bill Gates Invests $80 Million in Arizona "Smart City"
Bill Gates Looks to Immunotherapy to Help Control All Infectious Diseases


Original Submission

Related Stories

Bill Gates Commits $100 Million to Alzheimer's Research 12 comments

Microsoft founder Gates commits $100 million for fund, start-ups, to fight Alzheimer's

Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is to invest $50 million in the Dementia Discovery Fund, a venture capital fund that brings together industry and government to seek treatments for the brain-wasting disease. The investment is not part of Gates' philanthropic Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and will be followed with another $50 million in a number of start-up ventures working in Alzheimer's research, Gates said.

With rapidly rising numbers of people suffering from Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, the disease is taking a growing emotional and financial toll as people live longer, Gates told Reuters in an interview. "It's a huge problem, a growing problem, and the scale of the tragedy - even for the people who stay alive - is very high," he said.

Despite decades of scientific research, there is no treatment that can slow the progression of Alzheimer's. Current drugs can do no more than ease some of the symptoms. Gates said, however, that with focused and well-funded innovation, he's "optimistic" treatments can be found, even if they might be more than a decade away.


Original Submission

Bill Gates Invests $80 Million in Arizona "Smart City" 29 comments

Bill Gates is Buying Land in Arizona to Build a "Smart City"

An investment firm run by Bill Gates has put down $80 million to develop a planned community in Arizona. The 25,000 acres of land is about 45 minutes west of Phoenix, in an area called the West Valley. The community, which Gates wants to turn into a "smart city," will be named Belmont.

"Belmont will create a forward-thinking community with a communication and infrastructure spine that embraces cutting-edge technology, designed around high-speed digital networks, data centers, new manufacturing technologies and distribution models, autonomous vehicles and autonomous logistics hubs," Belmont Partners, the Arizona real state investment company involved in the deal, said in a news release.

The proposed freeway I-11, which would connect the Belmont area to Las Vegas, makes the land an ideal spot for a new community, according to Ronald Schott, the executive emeritus at the Arizona Technology Council. Of the 25,000 acres, 3,800 will be used for office, retail, and commercial space. Another 470 acres will be used for public schools. That leaves enough space for 80,000 residential units.

Also at TheUSBPort, Fossbytes, CNET, and Real Estate Daily News.


Original Submission #1   Original Submission #2

Bill Gates Looks to Immunotherapy to Help Control All Infectious Diseases 15 comments

Bill Gates gave an address at J.P. Morgan's 36th Annual Healthcare Conference in San Francisco:

[There] is reason to hope that the insights uncovered in ongoing immunotherapy research for cancer will eventually help us control all infectious diseases. This would be a huge victory for humanity—and potentially a significant market for the life sciences.

Others seem to think so too. Venture capitalists like Bob Nelsen and Bob More have helped raise over $500 million for VIR Biotechnology—including funding from us—to discover and develop treatments for serious infectious diseases.

We are also investors in Immunocore, which is using T-cell technology to help stimulate the body's immune system. Initially, Immunocore's "T-cell receptor" technology targeted cancers, but it could also be applied against infectious diseases.

We are backing companies like CureVac and Moderna on mRNA approaches for vaccine and drug development, which have the potential to help us tackle cancer. This approach is also intriguing as a potential immunological intervention for HIV, malaria, flu and the Zika virus.

And mRNA vaccines are likely to be cheaper, easier, and faster to make than traditional vaccines. This would be particularly helpful in containing epidemics—whether they occur through nature or are the result of an intentional biological attack. Today, it typically takes up to 10 years to develop and license a new vaccine. To significantly curb deaths from a fast-moving airborne pathogen, we would have to get that down considerably—to 90 days or less.

Also at NBF.

Related: Bill Gates Commits $100 Million to Alzheimer's Research


Original Submission

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  • (Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:00PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:00PM (#631745)

    "...and how we enhance the genetics so that you can get, say the same type of milk or egg productivity that we have in the U.K."
    I think I'll stick with hen eggs, those cow eggs are a bit grassy.

    • (Score: 2) by Immerman on Friday February 02 2018, @04:05AM

      by Immerman (3985) on Friday February 02 2018, @04:05AM (#631865)

      Hey, it's fiber and protein in one, and a single cow-egg omelet is enough to feed the whole team!

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @10:52AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @10:52AM (#631943)

      This is a Billy Gatesie article about genetically modified cows.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:28PM (18 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:28PM (#631757)

    Temp regulation is some function of surface to volume ratio. Unless it's a really skinny cow, this is going to be similar for any cow shaped animal and I doubt that they will be able to design in much additional heat resistance. Larger animals must have special adaptations for cooling... (which I'm not familiar with).

    • (Score: 4, Funny) by KiloByte on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:35PM (2 children)

      by KiloByte (375) on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:35PM (#631758)

      Temp regulation is some function of surface to volume ratio.

      Thus, decrease this ratio. The optimal cow is spherical.

      --
      Ceterum censeo systemd esse delendam.
      • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:51PM

        by bob_super (1357) on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:51PM (#631767)

        Conveniently, the optimal milk preservation is in a 0K vacuum.
        Who said physicists didn't have practical applications?

      • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @02:06AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @02:06AM (#631835)

        Wrong sign -- spherical has the least surface to volume ratio. For cooling you want more surface area and/or less volume -- that's why heat sinks have lots of thin fins.

    • (Score: 2, Interesting) by tftp on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:36PM (1 child)

      by tftp (806) on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:36PM (#631759) Homepage
      Elephant's ears come to mind - they are cooling devices.
      • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @05:09AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @05:09AM (#631894)

        Yup. African elephants in particular.

        Runner up in the ears department is the desert fox. [google.com]
        (Its overall small size is a good design as well.)

        -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]

    • (Score: 3, Funny) by takyon on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:36PM

      by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:36PM (#631760) Journal

      They will create spherical cows.

      --
      [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by linkdude64 on Friday February 02 2018, @12:03AM

      by linkdude64 (5482) on Friday February 02 2018, @12:03AM (#631776)

      Obviously they're trying to engineer the cow to grow its own radiator ports for its circulatory system.

    • (Score: 2) by frojack on Friday February 02 2018, @01:12AM (7 children)

      by frojack (1554) on Friday February 02 2018, @01:12AM (#631812) Journal

      I doubt that they will be able to design in much additional heat resistance.

      Well maybe the cows gain the mad desire to join the Wildebeests in a romp in the river.
      Would that be so bad.

      I really don't understand why a milk cow has to weigh 1,400 – 2,000 lbs to stand in a field all day, when a Wildebeest can run half way across Africa in giant herds and each one weighs in at only 260 – 600 lbs.

      --
      No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
      • (Score: 3, Interesting) by acid andy on Friday February 02 2018, @01:44AM (4 children)

        by acid andy (1683) on Friday February 02 2018, @01:44AM (#631827) Homepage Journal

        I really don't understand why a milk cow has to weigh 1,400 – 2,000 lbs to stand in a field all day, when a Wildebeest can run half way across Africa in giant herds and each one weighs in at only 260 – 600 lbs.

        I really don't think the cows understand why either. I think the dairy herds are still bred to be eaten.

        --
        If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
        • (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @05:17AM (3 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @05:17AM (#631895)

          Well, if you are eating veal, it's likely a male born on a dairy farm.

          Dairy cows that have ended their value WRT producing milk are likely to turn up in hot dogs, baloney, and dog food.

          -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]

          • (Score: 2) by acid andy on Friday February 02 2018, @03:38PM (2 children)

            by acid andy (1683) on Friday February 02 2018, @03:38PM (#632022) Homepage Journal

            Well, if you are eating veal, it's likely a male born on a dairy farm.

            After decades of public awareness and campaigning, I can't believe they're still doing that barabaric shit. Sometimes I'm ashamed to be human.

            --
            If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @04:25PM (1 child)

              by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @04:25PM (#632040)

              Only takes one bull to service a herd of milk cows, the dairy farmers have to do something with the male calves. Visited a dairy a few years ago and the farmer's comment was that his bull was getting lazy (old), time to raise a new one.

              • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @06:58PM

                by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @06:58PM (#632106)

                eating them is one thing. chaining them down is quite another. no excuse for that shit.

      • (Score: 3, Informative) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Friday February 02 2018, @04:12AM

        by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Friday February 02 2018, @04:12AM (#631872) Homepage Journal

        Aurochs were huge

        --
        Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
      • (Score: 3, Funny) by captain normal on Friday February 02 2018, @04:45AM

        by captain normal (2205) on Friday February 02 2018, @04:45AM (#631885)

        Ever try to milk a Wildebeest? Cows are easy, not to sure about wildebeests.

        --
        When life isn't going right, go left.
    • (Score: 4, Informative) by ese002 on Friday February 02 2018, @02:59AM

      by ese002 (5306) on Friday February 02 2018, @02:59AM (#631845)

      Temp regulation is some function of surface to volume ratio. Unless it's a really skinny cow, this is going to be similar for any cow shaped animal and I doubt that they will be able to design in much additional heat resistance.

      Since Cape Buffalo are essentially large cows adapted to high temperatures, the problem does seem to be solvable. The usual ways that large herbivores cool themselves is by circulating blood through their nose where it meets cool area brought in through breathing. Cape buffalo do seem to have broader snouts than domesticated cows.

    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Immerman on Friday February 02 2018, @04:11AM

      by Immerman (3985) on Friday February 02 2018, @04:11AM (#631870)

      There's at least two different approaches to withstand higher temperatures:

      1) Radiate heat better: big noses or ears with high blood flow, less fur, etc.

      2) Tolerate a higher body temperature. For example a camel's body temperature normally fluctuates between about 34C at dawn to 40C by sunset,

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 06 2018, @02:57AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 06 2018, @02:57AM (#633600)
      Just make the cow more "cold blooded". That'll make the cow more efficient with regards to feed.

      Large crocodiles weigh almost as much as cows but don't need to eat very much.

      The issue is tuning down the metabolism with a "global tunable" is likely to reduce the milk production as well.

      But not having to eat much is fairly important it's not like you'd want to turn more grasslands and forests into deserts in Africa.
  • (Score: 2) by acid andy on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:59PM (8 children)

    by acid andy (1683) on Thursday February 01 2018, @11:59PM (#631771) Homepage Journal
    They'll appear to work fine at first but every few days they'll overheat and BSOD.

    Then, sometime later:

    GALVmed ScanMoo
    ____________________________________________________________________________

    Because this bovinian was not properly shut down,
    one or more of your udders may have errors on it.

    To avoid seeing this message again, always shut down
    your cow by gently singing it a lullaby in a spacious,
    air conditioned barn.

    Or move back to a colder country already and take your
    poor, twisted Frankenmoos with you!
    --
    If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @12:03AM (3 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @12:03AM (#631777)

      Frankenmoos r ppl 2
      eat mor chikin

      • (Score: 2) by acid andy on Friday February 02 2018, @12:06AM (2 children)

        by acid andy (1683) on Friday February 02 2018, @12:06AM (#631780) Homepage Journal

        Chikins r ppl 2
        eat more Soylent

        --
        If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @02:08AM (1 child)

          by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @02:08AM (#631837)

          Soylent r ppl.

          I guess we all starve.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @02:11AM

            by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @02:11AM (#631839)

            All the headers in this web format ruin the beauty of a nice cascade.

            In case you don't understand, try this page: https://kb.iu.edu/d/afhb [iu.edu]

    • (Score: 1) by tftp on Friday February 02 2018, @12:28AM (1 child)

      by tftp (806) on Friday February 02 2018, @12:28AM (#631786) Homepage
      A great many moos will be prematurely shut down by predators (lions etc.) and snakes.
      • (Score: 2) by acid andy on Friday February 02 2018, @12:33AM

        by acid andy (1683) on Friday February 02 2018, @12:33AM (#631789) Homepage Journal

        That's true. I don't remember Win95 boxes having too many natural predators. Maybe the odd one got carried off by a golden eagle. Or dropped from a great height by a disgruntled sys admin.

        --
        If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?
    • (Score: 4, Insightful) by Gaaark on Friday February 02 2018, @12:34AM (1 child)

      by Gaaark (41) on Friday February 02 2018, @12:34AM (#631792) Journal
      cowsay Frankenmoos

      Frankenmoos

              \   ^__^
               \  (oo)\_______
                  (__)\       )\/\
                      ||----w |
                      ||     ||

      --
      --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @10:59AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @10:59AM (#631946)

        For the uninitiated https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowsay [wikipedia.org]

        Also, apt-get --help|grep Cow
        and then apt-get moo

  • (Score: 2) by Gaaark on Friday February 02 2018, @12:42AM (4 children)

    by Gaaark (41) on Friday February 02 2018, @12:42AM (#631798) Journal

    Can you grow cow food in Africa? You know, nutritious grass, clover, hay, mad cow brains? Or is it too hot?

    Will they have to genetically modify the grass, clover, hay and mad cow brains so they can withstand the heat? Why not just modify the cows so they can fly? Lots of empty air space up there and they could just fly around until they go to a place where the temperature was 'Just Right'.

    Then, we could all just walk around with rain hats on (and neck braces to absorb the impact) or use umbrellies... or just genetically modify humans to withstand the impact of 'dropped bombs'.

    Things would smell better down here as well, as the methane would just rise up (unless there are a lot of down swells of air: IANAWeatherman).

    Flying cows, i think, would solve ALL the worlds problems.

    Mr. Billy...could you give me $40millions so i can make flying cows? Whassat? What's that about when pigs are flying? I can do that too, but i'd need more money......

    --
    --- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
  • (Score: 2) by MostCynical on Friday February 02 2018, @01:20AM

    by MostCynical (2589) on Friday February 02 2018, @01:20AM (#631815) Journal
    --
    "I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by inertnet on Friday February 02 2018, @01:29AM (4 children)

    by inertnet (4071) on Friday February 02 2018, @01:29AM (#631821) Journal

    Maybe it would be more useful if they tried to genetically reduce methane production, which is likely a factor in causing that warmer climate that Bill's cows would thrive in.

    • (Score: 2) by canopic jug on Friday February 02 2018, @07:24AM

      by canopic jug (3949) Subscriber Badge on Friday February 02 2018, @07:24AM (#631912) Journal

      Or they could add more teats for a total of six or eight. Four cannot handle the output of the udders they've bred into today's cows. The udders already drag on the ground. More teats would be needed if output is to be further increased. Much of the agricultural antibiotic abuse on dairy farms is due to infections there.

      --
      Money is not free speech. Elections should not be auctions.
    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by therainingmonkey on Friday February 02 2018, @09:35AM (2 children)

      by therainingmonkey (6839) on Friday February 02 2018, @09:35AM (#631930)

      I have a friend who works in this field. Apparently adding garlic to the cow feed dramatically reduces the amount of methane they produce, unfortunately their milk then tastes like garlic.

      I believe those "odourless garlic" tablets you see were a spinoff from his research efforts.

      • (Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Friday February 02 2018, @07:17PM (1 child)

        by DeathMonkey (1380) on Friday February 02 2018, @07:17PM (#632112) Journal

        Apparently adding garlic to the cow feed dramatically reduces the amount of methane they produce

        Seaweed's been in the news recently for similar research. [nationalgeographic.com]

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @07:58PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @07:58PM (#632132)

          Also activated charcoal as well, though that may mainly help with the side-effects of a grain diet not the belching ...

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @10:55AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @10:55AM (#631944)

    Microsoft spends profits on cows.
    Drunk students push cows over.
    Students graduate.
    Students go to work for corporation.
    Corporation overpays for Microsoft products.
    Microsoft spends profits on cows...

  • (Score: 2) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Friday February 02 2018, @04:52PM (1 child)

    by GreatAuntAnesthesia (3275) on Friday February 02 2018, @04:52PM (#632049) Journal

    Wouldn't it be easier to just breed better camels?

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @07:53PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 02 2018, @07:53PM (#632130)

      You are on the right track, Bill Gates is spending $40 million to discover Indicine Cattle ...

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