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A HERD of goats containing spider genes is about to be milked for the ingredients of spider silk to mass-produce one of nature's most sought-after materials.
Scientists have for the first time spun synthetic spider silk fibres with properties approaching the real thing, paving the way for their use in artificial tendons, medical sutures, biodegradable fishing lines, soft body armour and a host of other applications.
Webster and Peter, genetically altered goats unveiled today by the Canadian company Nexia, are the founders of a GM herd whose offspring will produce spider silk protein in their milk that can be collected, purified and spun into the fibres. Females will begin mass-producing spider milk in the second quarter of this year for a variety of military and industrial uses.
Spider silk has long been admired by material scientists for its unique combination of toughness, lightness and biodegradability. Dragline silk, which comprises the radiating spokes of a spider web, is stronger than the synthetic fibre Kevlar, stretches better than nylon and, weight for weight, is five times stronger than steel.
These incredible qualities are the product of 400 million years of evolution. Now spider yarn has been spun by the US Army and the company Nexia Biotechnologies of Montreal, marking a milestone in efforts to ape arachnids.
Originally posted by thedoctorswife
Guys, dont shoot me for this, but the OP is a newbie, and it was a poorly done thread, but havnt we all buggered it up at some point?
Originally posted by Ex_CT2
Originally posted by thedoctorswife
Guys, dont shoot me for this, but the OP is a newbie, and it was a poorly done thread, but havnt we all buggered it up at some point?
Doctorswife, you are perfectly correct. To the OP: My apologies for being so snide. Please don't let any of this discourage you from being a contributing member. Authoring a thread is a matter of trust, and some of us took unfair advantage. Sorry again....edit on 3/14/2012 by Ex_CT2 because: (no reason given)
JOHN CARTER= JESUS CHRIST = Antichrist = Alien Savior comes to save planet Earth
Originally posted by Taz2122
reply to post by dalan.
Religion is a disease.
How come most religious people always focus on doom and gloom? Aren't you suppose to embrace love, you know "love thy neighbour" and all that jazz?
Oh, I forgot, your "god" also condones genocide and human sacrifce.