Pete and Webster are two goats that cannot dangle from the ceiling nor do they have a taste for flies. What they do have is spider genes which enable them to produce milk containing spider protein!
Scientist at Nexia Biotechnologies used techniques similar to those employed to produce Dolly the sheep to breed the goats. Natural spider silk is the toughest known fibre known to man. It’s stronger and more flexible than steel, and offers a lightweight alternative to carbon fibre.
The ‘silk milk' will be used to produce a web-material called “Bio Steel” that can be used in medical sutures, biodegradable fishing lines and soft body armour.
It is even compatible with the human body and can therefore be used for strong tough artificial tendons, ligaments and limbs!
• Want to know more about spider silk ?
• Ms Frankenstein's goat: A spider-goat video
