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Scientist Mix Spiders with Goat
News.com.au ^
| 6-23--02
Posted on 06/22/2002 3:08:11 PM PDT by 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.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy; Technical
KEYWORDS: genetics
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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.
1
posted on
06/22/2002 3:08:12 PM PDT
by
dogbyte12
To: dogbyte12
I remember this story breaking awhile ago. It got plenty of freeper airplay. It's good to see it return.
2
posted on
06/22/2002 3:19:18 PM PDT
by
Bogey78O
To: dogbyte12
Imagine what this would do for tents and other outdoor equipment.
To: dogbyte12
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.
4
posted on
06/22/2002 3:24:43 PM PDT
by
blackdog
To: dogbyte12
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.
;^)
5
posted on
06/22/2002 3:25:36 PM PDT
by
Bandolier
To: knighthawk
Oh, Abdullard! Allah has doubled the number of thy Fatima's limbs, the better to embrace thee!
-- Fatima the Spider-Goat.
6
posted on
06/22/2002 3:26:25 PM PDT
by
dighton
To: Registered
This is just crying for you....
To: dogbyte12
Ahh,the slippery slope.
What's next?
One of Dr. Moreau's experiments in The Island of Dr. Moreau.
8
posted on
06/22/2002 3:26:45 PM PDT
by
mdittmar
To: dogbyte12
No more blown suspenders for Jerrold Gonadler.
To: Paul Atreides
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?
To: dogbyte12
To: dogbyte12
We are playing God.
To: ColdSteelTalon
What else is new?
To: dighton
LOL!
To: dogbyte12
Another brilliant idea from
scientists.
Kudzu
15
posted on
06/22/2002 3:57:57 PM PDT
by
ibme
To: mdittmar
Ahh,the slippery slope. What's next?
More of this....
To: dogbyte12
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.
To: dogbyte12
I know how Spiderman shot his web. I can imagine how Spidergoat shoots her web.
Reminds me of Cow and Chicken cartoons on Nick.
18
posted on
06/22/2002 4:09:55 PM PDT
by
gitmo
To: Paul Atreides
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.
To: Paul Atreides
ooooh,yuck.
I didn't think those two could look worse.
20
posted on
06/22/2002 4:14:19 PM PDT
by
mdittmar
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