Oligopotent Stem Cell Inactivation for Lab-Grown Meat

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing in vitro meat face challenges such as high costs, low yields, and genetic instability due to the use of recombinant growth factors and genetically modified organisms, which also raise consumer concerns about animal welfare and environmental sustainability.

Innovation Solution

The development of oligopotent stem cells (OSCs) that are self-renewing and differentiated with reduced or no use of costly recombinant molecules, by stably inactivating lineage specifier genes using gene editing systems, allowing for the production of lab-grown meat with improved stability and safety, mimicking the cellular composition and organoleptic properties of conventional meat.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If pluripotent stem cells are used for in vitro meat production, then cellular diversity and differentiation capacity are improved, but production cost and process complexity increase due to requirement of recombinant growth factors and cytokines

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecellular diversityVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the requirement for recombinant growth factors and cytokines from the differentiation process. By using naturally occurring signaling molecules present in the culture medium, the invention eliminates the need for expensive external additives while maintaining the ability of pluripotent stem cells to differentiate into diverse cell types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention enables the culture system to self-regulate differentiation through naturally occurring signaling molecules that are already present in the culture medium. The pluripotent stem cells respond to endogenous signals rather than requiring externally added recombinant factors, making the system self-sufficient and reducing production costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If directed differentiation protocols are used, then specific cell types can be obtained, but process complexity and time increase due to multistep culturing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell type specificityVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-selecting specific pluripotent stem cell lines that have inherent biases toward differentiating into desired cell types. This preliminary selection reduces the need for complex multistep differentiation protocols, as the cells are already predisposed to form specific tissue types under standard culture conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If forced differentiation with transgenes is used, then differentiation efficiency is improved, but genetic stability and safety worsen due to transgene insertion and expression issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedifferentiation efficiencyVSAvoidgenetic stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of forcing differentiation through transgene overexpression, the invention inverts the approach by selecting or engineering pluripotent stem cells with reduced or absent expression of lineage specifier genes. This genetic inactivation prevents unwanted differentiation pathways and allows cells to differentiate efficiently into desired types through natural signaling without requiring foreign gene insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Quantity of substance

If muscle stem cells are used for in vitro cultivation, then meat production is achieved, but yield and scalability worsen due to limited proliferation potential

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeat yieldVSAvoidscalability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by first expanding pluripotent stem cells to large numbers before initiating differentiation. This preliminary expansion phase allows the cells to multiply extensively while maintaining their undifferentiated state, thereby achieving the necessary cell mass for scalable meat production before commitment to specific tissue types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables cost-effective, scalable, and safer production of in vitro meat with enhanced cellular diversity and stability, addressing concerns of animal welfare and environmental impact while meeting consumer preferences for meat quality and sustainability.

Implementation Method 1

by stably inactivating lineage specifier genes using gene editing systems

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGene editing:

Data Source

PatentUS20240327794A1Foodstuffs comprising cells differentiated from engineered oligopotent stem cells

Publication Date: 2024.10.03 SUPRÊME

AI summary

The invention belongs to the field of food biotechnology. More precisely the invention relates to so-called lab grown meat. The invention relates to a method for producing foodstuff comprising a step of processing in vitro differentiated non-human animal cells wherein said in vitro differentiated non-human animal cells originate from at least one oligopotent stem cell (OSC), said at least one OSC being inactivated for the expression of at least one lineage specifier gene. The invention also relates to said foodstuff and OSCs useful for producing said foodstuff.