474
Palmer Luckey raies $200,000,000 to genetically engineer dogs for war (dangerousminds.net)
submitted 1 week ago by to c/nottheonion@lemmy.world
227 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Palmer Luckey of Anduril is teaming with Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences to launch Warhound, a startup dedicated to genetically engineering and cloning dogs for service in war, police work and first responder work. Speaking to Wired, Lamm explained that the project was twofold. One part of the project would oversee the genetic engineering and cloning of the ideal dogs for war, and the other would develop tech for them to use on battlefields.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 36 points 1 week ago (12 children)

So this is awful and stupid, but what I really want to know is what they think they can genetically engineer that can out perform a Belgian malinois for energy and physicality or a bloodhound for scent work. Like working dogs are already incredibly finely tuned through massive breeding programs.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 12 child comments
    •
  • [–] 47 points 1 week ago (3 children)

    They're not looking to make a better dog, they're looking to make a patentable dog.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •
  • [–] 15 points 1 week ago (1 child)

    In addition, in the eyes of the law these patented dogs will be legal objects that the company owns, not living beings.

    I know the law already lets you do crazy evil shit to the animals you own, especially if you are a corp with money. This will be worse. This will make a factory farm look like a children's story.

    This will be something out of H.R. Giger's nightmares after Phillip K. Dick spends a week telling him bedtime stories and soothing him in his dreams with Hannibal-Lecter-whispers.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 child)

    Speaking to Wired, Lamm explained that the project was twofold. One part of the project would oversee the genetic engineering and cloning of the ideal dogs for war, and the other would develop tech for them to use on battlefields.

    Sounds like weaponized cyborg dogs is where this is going

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 5 points 1 week ago (4 children)

    Maybe they think they can combine all those desirable traits in one custom breed quicker than traditional animal husbandry?

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 18 points 1 week ago (3 children)

    A lot of the time you can't effectively combine them. That is why we have different breeds. Stronger and bigger typically means less stamina and less nimble. Better nose means they get hyper focused on scent and are less effective for other tasks. Even without the ethical issues, I can't see them building a better dog.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
    •