Genetic Manipulation

[Sixpence]

I was in a store the other day, and I noticed a bamboo cutting board. It had a tag on it telling the benefits of bamboo. They glue it in layers and it is stronger than oak(so they say). Some species of bamboo grow up to 2 feet a day. And I was wondering, in this day of genetic engineering, could we cross this species of bamboo with the oak tree? Imagine an oak tree full grown in less than a year. Just a thought.

[ravells]

Imagine if we'd crossed it with a yew tree 900 years ago.

Agincourt would have been even better

(just kidding)

Ravs

[Sixpence]

Here are some interesting hybrids, you have to scroll down to find plant hybrids.

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/hybrids1.htm

[ravells]

I try to eat organic food. It's much tastier.

Ravs

[capt. apathy]

generally the faster a tree grows the less density to the wood.  so even if you could get it to grow faster you'd likely end up with a softer, weaker wood.

there are a couple test lots around here where they are doing hybrid trees, mostly crossing cotton-woods or poplar with others to get a faster growing tree, but these are for the paper industry where the softer wood actually makes it cheaper and easier to process.

[Munkii]

Everything that is made of wood should only be made of balsa wood as of right.......... now.

[Nash]

I thought, great... You'll end up with oak trees that grow really quickly to be, 6 foot tall.

Checked.

Turns out bamboo trees can grow pretty tall... 30'-40'.

So yeah, wtf... Let 'em get it on. I'm tired of waiting.

[AKIron]

As I hope to get older I'm wondering if bamboo might not be spliced with something more....organic?

[capt. apathy]

hell, you might just end up with a grass(bamboo is a grass, not a tree) that grows as slow as an oak.

hey that wouldn't bee too bad, install it as sod so you wouldn't have to wait for cover. It'd grow so slow that you'd only have to mow it every 2 or 3 years.

[storch]

In Hongkong, years ago construction companies used to manufacture their scaffolding from lashed together bamboo.  It looked quite rickety but IMO it may have actually performed better than steel.  Bamboo is a very hard, tough wood and is difficult to cross cut, yet splits easily along the grain.  Where ever did you see this cutting board, I want one.

[Sixpence]

Originally posted by storch
Where ever did you see this cutting board, I want one.

I was at kitchens etc when I saw it, found it at their site.

http://www.kitchenetc.com/Products.cfm?sku=000999243

BTW, it is harder than maple, I believe I said oak.

[Sixpence]

BTW, I could have sworn the same one I saw was under 20 bucks, that price online seems way off.

[mietla]

Originally posted by Sixpence
in this day of genetic engineering, could we cross this species of bamboo with the oak tree?

I'd cross it with a pig, so I could have a fresh bacon every morning.

[Sixpence]

Originally posted by mietla
I'd cross it with a pig, so I could have a fresh bacon every morning.

I think they have already crossed a pig with an elephant, you see the size of pigs lately? I cut the last pork loin I bought into 4 good sized roasts, yum.