Yaakov's Foray into Genetic Engineering
Posted by Ani Ledodi on November 19, 2007 | Tags: Vayetze
Tomorrow we will read Parshat Vayetze. This parsha is indeed exciting, with lots of material for us to potentially get really cozy and study together. However, with limited time, we must filter the parshah through our Zoologists eyes and concentrate on the fourteen pesukim found in Bereishit, perek Lamed: pesukim Chaf Tet (29) to the end of the perek (Mem Gimmel). Our goal this evening is to emphasize the Miracles that Hashem performed for Yaakov, by exploring zoological and biological theories in genetic engineering.
We begin with Yaakov asking Lavan for hus wages, payment, for the years of service he has performed watching his father –in-laws flocks.
Let’s first understand the text and the meforshim, so that we have the torah view firmly in our minds before we go exploring.
In the beginning, Yaakov approaches Lavan and asks for wages as payment for his work with Lavan’s sheep. A plan is hit upon in Lamed Bet – “Eevor mekol Tzoncha Hayom Haser Mesham Kol Seh: Nakod, V’Talooh, Vchol seh Choom bakvasim, vtalooh, vnakod, Baezim, Vehaya Schari”
“Today I will go through your flocks. Remove from them every lamb that is spotted, or streaked, every brownish one among the sheep, and every goat that is streaked or spotted.
That will be my wage”
Lavan agreed, but removed “hatayashim haakoodim, vhatluim v’et kol haezim hanikoodim vhatloot kol asher lavan bi vkol chum bakvasim”
“The ringed and streaked Male goats, all the spotted and speckled female goats, every one with a trace of white, and every sheep with brown markings”
Let us define terms for a moment: there are 5 different attributes mentioned in the Torah.
Akudim = Ringed – these are animals with bands around their legs, while the rest of the body is white. (the word is found at the Akedah – the binding of Yitzchak) (perush RASAG)
Nikudim = Spotted – animals with a white body and black spots, according to Rashi, small spots
Brudim = Mottled (piebald) – white spots on a black body (looks like Hail, barad)
Talooh = Streaked – narrow black stripes, Rashi says wide spots – related to the term Tlaim “patches”
Chum = Brownish – reddish, some say blackish, some say containing brown. Rashi says “brown similar to red”.
It is important to note, as testimony to Lavan’s personality if nothing else, that he not only separated sheep and goats that sported the three variations which Yaakov mentioned, but he also included two other variations and “Every sheep with brown markings” which would possibly be able to create offspring with spots or speckles of brown, leaving Yaakov with an entirely white flock. In addition, Rashi tells us that Lavan also removed all the fat, healthy animals, even if they were not flecked (pasuk Lamed vav “Hanotarot – the rest”). The sheep he gave Yaakov were all sick and old. Lavan took both males and females, and young and old, thereby adding to Yaakov’s challenge to creating a healthy flock within one or two breeding seasons.
Sheep drop two litters a year with a 5 month gestation time; they mate once in Nissan, April and give birth in Av (august), the second time occurs in Tishrei, September, with the young being born in Adar (march). Therefore, even in one year, constituting 2 breeding cycles, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for Yaakov to build up a flock with a shortage of healthy and robust females. Midrash tells us that besides that, Lavan also changed his mind 100 times and kept changing the terms of his agreement with Yaakov.
Now comes the fascinating part of the whole story:
Pasuk lamed zayin: “Vayikach lo Yaakov Makel Livneh Lach VLuz VArmon Vayifatzel Bahen pitzalot Livanot Machshof Halavan Asher Al Hamakalot”
“And Yaakov took rods of fresh Poplar, Almond and Chestnut. He peeled white stripes in them by uncovering the white in the rods”
Then – next two pesukim – Yaakov set up the rods he had peeled near the troughs, the watering receptacles to which the sheep came to drink, facing the sheep. They would mate when they came to drink. The sheep mated toward the rods and the sheep gave birth to streaked, spotted and ringed lambs.
The end result is, as it says in pasuk Mem gimel – Vayifrotz haIsh meod meod - the man became tremendously prosperous.
This lashon is also used in the book of shemot. In Perek Aleph, pasuk Zayin – “Ubnai yisrael paru viyishritzu vayirbu vaya’azmu bimeod meod vatimaleh haaretz otam”. Rashi on this pasuk says that the 6 different leshonot describing the fecundity or fertility of bnai yisrael is to teach us that the women gave birth to 6 babies at a time. “shisha bikeres echad”.
Radak here mentions that the lashon of Vayifrotz is referring to his wealth, as does the Rasag, but Seforno reads it as he has exceeded the boundary of this being a mere coincidence and dumb luck in the realm of sheepherding.
The use of the lashon “BiMeod Meod” here, is to emphasize, similar to the women in Mizrayim, though really not comparable of course, that the sheep of Yaakov were exceptionally fertile and dropped more lambs than is usual, which, according to Rashi, allowed him to sell more of them, at a high price and increase his wealth exponentially.
Let’s recap for a second. Yaakov took pure white sheep and bred out of them spotted, speckled, banded, striped – in short, a hodgepodge collection of animals. His animals were sought after and he got top dollar, as it were, for his lambs and kids. He bred his flock in unheard of numbers, in record time. Yaakov seems to have manipulated the genetics of the simple breed of desert sheep into something quite different.
Let’s shift into science gear and explore for a few moments some key concepts in Conservation Biology and Vertebrate Zoology.
I am not going to discuss the biology of reproduction, which I am sure Rabbi Chill is much relieved about. I’d like to go a little deeper, and sketch out the basic rules of Mendelian genetics.
The inheritance of characteristics from a parent to an offspring is determined by the genes. Think of genetics as an amusement park, and each gene is a different ride. The roller coaster goes up, down, and in a loop. It never deviates from that path, that is it’s job. The ferris wheel turns in perpetual circles, and the teacups will always twirl around on their own axis while revolving around the platform. Each ride does the exact same thing, always, without making a change. In this way, genes are like little rides, that possess specific traits which do not change. When 2 rides are being combined however, like a teacup ferris wheel, attributes are taken from each donor, or each ride, and fit together like a puzzle piece. The cool part though, is that they no longer stay the same.
For example, a teacup ferris wheel that I may create would not look at all like the ferris wheel teacup ride my wonderful husband would make. He is taller than me so perhaps his ride is more ferris wheel and less teacup-like. Whereas, my ride might be only slightly above the ground but very twirly. Someone else may design a ferris wheel that has teacups for the little cars you sit in, but nothing that actually functions like the teacup ride. You can see by this silly example that though each gene is designed for a specific role or function, the combination of genes has more possibilities for change.
A well-known way to plot the effects of breeding dissimilar genes together is called a punnett square. Don’t worry, I am not going to test you on this. Quite simply, it is essentially a kind of tic tac toe board that has on one side, a dominant, or strong trait, and on the other, a recessive, or less strong trait. The crossing together of these traits produces some offspring with the strong trait and some with both (which are called hybrids), though the recessive trait is not readily apparent. However, should you then breed two hybrids, the startling result of four offspring is 1 with dominant, 1 with recessive and 2 with hybrid traits.
Before you fall asleep or panic, let me assure you that my point is only to demonstrate the infinite possibilities that exist when crossbreeding for certain traits and characteristics. Even with our medical advances today, scientists are still trying to unlock the mysteries of genetics, and whether traits can be directed or engineered to occur. To further complicate matters, some traits are linked to the gender of the animal in question, and need to be bred specifically within that sex. For example, we now know that baldness is transferred through a mother’s father. Not from father to son.
Back to Yaakov for a second - Scientists would probably not agree that is was the sticks in the water which impressed in the mind of the female sheep the coloring of their lambs. However, since we know so little about genetics, it is entirely possible that we can in some way create in our mind’s eye a picture of something and then it gets translated in a genetic or energy level to our bodies. Yaakov had been a shepherd for most of his life, and he was a smart man. It is entirely possible that he observed something that science has yet to catch up on.
Another approach is that perhaps there was something in these particular branches or species of trees which stimulate certain mating behaviors. Perhaps the sticks being in the drinking water created some chemical reaction in the sheep, like bovine love potion.
One of the most important and sacred philosophies in zoos and in conservation is the Diversity of the gene pool. If there are a small number of animals left in the word, it is important to try and preserve every thing that is unique about the individuals, in order to sustain the health of the species as a whole. Sometimes, animals are so extremely overhunted or stuck together that they end up in a situation called a genetic bottleneck. What that means in practical terms is that no new genes are being infused into the overall pool of the species. One such specie is a cheetah. I guarantee you that if you were to take blood from 10 cheetahs located in absolutely different parts of the world, they would have the exact same genes. Every cheetah you have seen in a zoo is exactly like every other cheetah in the world, genetically. This is a very bad sign for the species. Though there may be thousands of individual cheetahs in the world, the species is doomed because it cannot change or adapt to changing circumstances. Eventually, it will go extinct. Probably faster than eventually. In fact, cheetahs are already breeding out of existence. They are more prone to infection and illness then they used to be, and are having more trouble bearing cubs in captivity.
Zoos around the world are very aware of and concerned with the problem of genetics. Especially for animals in captivity who don’t have the opportunity to seek out others of their kind. Anyone keeping animals out of the wild has to be sensitive to that creature’s potential to mate and pass on precious genetic traits to others of its kind. Any zoo worth its salt creates an institutional collection plan, or ICP, which maps out whom they would let breed with whom, and how many times, in order to preserve the genes there are, but not have too many of the same in the gene pool. Additionally, there are 2 tactics that zoo’s around the world take.
The first is actually not as well-known, it is the concept of a cryozoo – a collection of cryogenically frozen genetic material, kept in the hopes that technology would advance at some point and allow extinct animals to be recreated from the genetic material that was saved. The most famous cryozoo is in San Diego Zoos’ center for conservation and research for endangered species, although there they call it germplasm cryopreservation. We just call it the frozen zoo, the zoocicle, or the cryozoo.
The other option is the Zoo’s equivalent of a shidduch service. Zoos all over the world register their animals in a database called ISIS – the international species information system. Isis then matches up male and female animals from different zoos with the goal of preserving genetic diversity, and increasing the captive population which can sometimes be repatriated, or released, back into the wild to bolster dwindling populations. The most highly threatened and endangered species belong to SSPs – which are Species Survival Plans, where keepers and managers of these animals meet once a year and discuss strategies for breeding, releasing and boosting the populations of these species.
In this way, animals are “Set up” and go on “dates” in order to preserve the stability of the overall species.
Now, considering the lengths that zoos and conservation organizations go to every day, throughout the world, don’t you think if they could put sticks in the watering troughs of the animals and make instant mutations of genes and infuse new traits into a species, they would?! Actually, Yaakov’s experiment had farther reaching effects than he knew.
Now let’s remember those pictures I showed you when we started.
See if you can find anything alike about the different animals in the pictures, excepting the fact that they are all obviously sheep. Perhaps they all have horns – but do they in fact all have the SAME horns?
What you are looking at is in fact one specie of sheep called Jacob’s sheep. “BOVIDAE OVIS”. By the time we are finished talking about these unique animals, you’ll be about ready to go to a livestock auction and know what to look for ?
While there is no consensus among the zoological or cattle breeder world about the true origin of this species, there is documentation throughout history indicating that spotted sheep originally came from the area now known as Syria 3,000 years ago. Pictoral evidence traces movement of these sheep through North Africa, Sicily, Spain and finally, to England, by the 1600’s. They became known in England as “park” sheep, and were kept as ornamental flocks on estates of the nobility and in parks, which is actually what probably kept the species from becoming extinct.
Jacob’s sheep are considered a primitive breed or an old world breed, having ancestral lines that span centuries, with little tampering to breed out certain characteristics over time. They are hardy, require minimal care and are extremely picturesque. As you noticed in the photos, Jacob’s sheep are “polycerate”, meaning they are multi-horned, both the Rams and the Ewes. In fact, they can have anywhere between two and six horns. In addition, they are unique in that though some breeds produce spotted lambs, Jacob lambs are the only ones that retain their spots for life.
Jacobs sheep are prized for other reasons too. The Jacobs Sheep Breeders Association explains that, unlike other primitive breeds, who are double coated, having a fine inner coat, and a coarser, longer outer coat, Jacobs have a medium fine fleece and no outer coat. Additionally, according to the Oregon wool Growers Association, unlike most other medium wool breeds, the quality of the fleece produces has been a major factor in the selection of the wool. The fleece is soft and open and light in grease. As a result, it is much sought after by fiber artisans, handspinners and craftsmen who enjoy its characteristics and color combinations. The colored portions of the fleece are usually black, but can also be brownish or a lighter color called “lilac”. Therefore, each fleece consists of several colors including white, black and various shades of brown. Jacobs produce beautifully unique pelts.
Jacobs are known for their hardiness, ease of lambing and strong mothering instincts. For example, Ewes require less supplemental feed during gestation and lamb easily usually with no assistance. In fact, feeding grain during pregnancy can cause birth complications. The lambs are up and nursing vigorously without help. Furthermore, ewes tend to twin, have few lambing problems and are excellent mothers.
Jacobs are naturally highly resistant to parasites and foot problems. Hooves generally only need trimming once a year, even on soft pasture. They also only need shearing once a year. They have “goatlike” personalities which make them smart, curious and easy to tame. They mix well with other goats and sheep. In Gloucestershire England, Jacobs are used as attack sheep to protect farm property from vandalism. Their small size means they eat less food and you can have more of them per acre on your farm than other breeds. In addition, their magnificent horns and attractive spots are very showy and beautiful.
When we began this evening, we read about the huge lengths that Yaakov went to receive his salary. But we can question why not just split the flock up and every one go his own way?
While I am not a torah scholar, I believe we answered that question early on – to throw light on Lavan’s personality, and Yaakov’s greatness, and Hashem’s miraculous ways in which He helps Tzadikim. And perhaps, on the simplest level, according to Seforno, to learn that people have to make an effort in their human ways so that God can assist and create something miraculous out of the mundane. Seforno stresses the importance of combining ones own efforts with God’s blessings and assistance. One should not just sit around, and daven that Hashem should fix everything in his life. Make the effort, and let Hashem do the rest.
What is the lesson the Torah is trying to teach us by spending 14 precious pesukim on this story? I’d like to propose that maybe it is quite simply this – We don’t know the effects of our actions on the world. But with God’s help, anything is possible. We can cure disease. We can bring moshiach. We can bring peace to Israel … well, maybe that’s a bit far fetched ?
I like to believe that we can glimpse the stunning beauty of God’s design and appreciate His role in the world when we dismantle it a bit and see how it was put together.
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Ani LedodiJoined: November 19, 2007 The author is a Zoologist with an advanced degree in Endangered Species Management. Though her passion is Conservation, she lectures all over the United States on topics that meld Torah with scientific concepts, especially those pertaining to animals. Divrei Torah (1) |
