Why do goats use spider silk?
Goats that produce spider silk protein in their milk could enable researchers to collect large quantities of the silk. For instance, due to its strength and elasticity, spider silk fiber could have several medical uses, such as for making artificial ligaments and tendons, for eye sutures, and for jaw repair.
How is spider goat silk made?
Jalila Essaïdi is a Dutch artist and entrepreneur focused on biotech applications of spider silk, which she makes using the milk of genetically engineered goats. We then purify that protein from the milk and spin it into fibers,” Lewis told CNN in an interview.
Who created the spider silk goat?
Randy Lewis
BioSteel was a trademark name for a high-strength fiber-based material made of the recombinant spider silk-like protein extracted from the milk of transgenic goats, made by Montreal-based company Nexia Biotechnologies, and later by the Randy Lewis lab of the University of Wyoming and Utah State University.
What can we use spider silk for?
Applications of Spider Silk
- Bullet-proof clothing.
- Wear-resistant lightweight clothing.
- Ropes, nets, seat belts, parachutes.
- Rust-free panels on motor vehicles or boats.
- Biodegradable bottles.
- Bandages, surgical thread.
- Artificial tendons or ligaments, supports for weak blood vessels.
What is spider silk used for?
Spider silk is one of the most versatile materials on Earth. Actually a protein created by special organs known as spinnerets, spider silk can be used for transportation, shelter, courtship, and all kinds of creative ways to trap prey. Some spiders can produce more than one type of silk.
What makes spider silk so special?
Spider silk has the ability to absorb immense amounts of kinetic energy, which means that it’s great for blast protection. Density: Strong as it is, the silk is also incredibly light. It is much lighter than steel itself, and its density (1.31 g/cm3) is actually one-sixth of the density of steel.