Scientist Mix Spiders with Goat

News.com.au ^ | 6-23--02

[dogbyte12]

LONDON: As comic book hero Spider-Man fills cinemas with his webby adventures, prepare to meet an equally astonishing creation - Spidergoat.

Scientists have combined the DNA from a goat and spider to create an animal which produces silk that is five times stronger than steel. The fibre, derived from the goats' milk, harnesses the huge strength of silk spun by spiders.

The breakthrough could be worth millions because the silkmilk fibre can be used to make body armour which is far tougher than normal bullet-proof vests – while weighing little more than a cotton shirt.

The hybrid goats were created by the insertion of a single gene from an orb-weaving spider into a fertilised goat egg.

The amazing genetically-engineered goats are outwardly normal, but carry the gene responsible for production of a spider silk protein. Each goat is only 1/70,000th spider, but when fully grown the females produce a milk which can be treated to produce a fibre with spider-silk strength.

The animals are believed to be the first commercially-viable creatures made from the DNA of two species.

Nexia, the Canadian biotech company which produced the goats, hopes the fibre – dubbed Biosteel – could take a large chunk of the billion-dollar market in industrial fibres.

[dogbyte12]

Drudge is freaked out about this as per usual.

I find it kind of cool. Soldiers will appreciate the lightweight armor. I am sure it will have a bunch of other uses. Perhaps temporary suspension bridges that can be stored in a backpack.

[Bogey78O]

I remember this story breaking awhile ago. It got plenty of freeper airplay. It's good to see it return.

[Militiaman7]

Imagine what this would do for tents and other outdoor equipment.

[blackdog]

Yes, but wearers of the special silk become obsessed with eating garbage, butting heads, and collecting friends who are willing to venture out in groups or heards.

[Bandolier]

They need to tweak the experiment a little.

If they can make a normal looking goat that has a bite as toxic as a black widow, it could be the perfect bioweapon against the Islamists.

;^)

[dighton]

Oh, Abdullard! Allah has doubled the number of thy Fatima's limbs, the better to embrace thee!

-- Fatima the Spider-Goat.

[Dakotabound]

This is just crying for you....

[mdittmar]

Ahh,the slippery slope.

What's next?

One of Dr. Moreau's experiments in The Island of Dr. Moreau.

[Paul Atreides]

No more blown suspenders for Jerrold Gonadler.

[dogbyte12]

I wonder if it would be possible to weave these fibers into a plastic composite and use it for lighter weight cars.

The plastic would dilute the strength of the fibers, but if it was by a factor of 5 for example, it would even out no? Any science types here who can explain it?

[Militiaman7]

Article on BIOSTEEL

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_ releases/2002-01/nbi-nau011102.php

Looks like the US Army has something to do with this

[ColdSteelTalon]

We are playing God.

[BlessingInDisguise]

What else is new?

[knighthawk]

LOL!

[ibme]

Another brilliant idea from scientists.

Kudzu

[Paul Atreides]

Ahh,the slippery slope.

What's next?

More of this....

[Paul Atreides]

I guess it would work; science fiction is full of references to plasteel. They succeeded in transportation the other day. There were also a couple of stories of breakthroughs in ultra-fast computers. Who knows what this will produce.

[gitmo]

I know how Spiderman shot his web. I can imagine how Spidergoat shoots her web.

Reminds me of Cow and Chicken cartoons on Nick.

[dogbyte12]

I hope "plasteel" will work. People won't switch to plastic based cars if they aren't as strong as steel. If this can be done, MPG numbers would go up alot, reducing our dependence on Arab oil.

[mdittmar]

ooooh,yuck.

I didn't think those two could look worse.