Goats with spider gene produce webs

Thursday, 18 May 2000 15:31 (ET)

Goats with spider gene produce webs By E.W. KIECKHEFER

MILWAUKEE, May 18 (UPI) - Canadian scientists have implanted spider genes in a herd of goats, resulting in the production of silky strands in goat milk that can be used for sutures and other applications.

The technique was perfected by Jeffrey Turner, a geneticist and president of Nexia Biotechnologies of Quebec.

"We have combined the old and the new," Turner told UPI in a recent interview. "The old is represented by the goats and their milk, which is used to make cheese. The new is genetic engineering."

In addition to sutures for eye surgery, the strands - which are harvested from the goat's milk -- can be used to reconstruct tendons or ligaments and to repair bones, Turner said, adding that companies like DuPont and 3M have been trying unsuccessfully to duplicate spider web silk in their laboratories for years.

Turner said he has been contacted by numerous pharmaceutical firms seeking to acquire the technique but he said he won't sell.

"We may take on a partner for the marketing end," he said, "but we will keep the ownership here in Quebec."

One major reason for that decision is the fact that Quebec's Caisse de depot et placement, which is responsible for investing Quebec pension funds, has invested several million dollars in the venture. Turner, a native of Ontario, said he decided to base his venture in Quebec because of the province's favorable economic climate.

Turner estimates the technology has a potential market of $2 billion. He expects the silk to go on the medical market within a year under the brand name BioSteelJ.

Additionally, he said, the substance likely has industrial applications, possibly replacing such things as Kevlar. It also could be used to cover domed stadiums and in the aerospace and communications industries.

Both the U.S. and Canadian military have expressed interest in using it for making anti-ballistic defense systems, he said.

-- no comment (bill_joy@sun.com), May 19, 2000

Answers

Do the goats have 8 legs too? How about a link, goat-guy?

-- (nemesis@awol.com), May 19, 2000.

This is too wierd.

Goats with spider gene produce webs

-- Have We Steped Over (The Line@Now?.com), May 19, 2000.

SpiderGoat, SpiderGoat
barnyard smell and a furry coat
spins a web, in his milk
and it feels just like silk
hey there, there goes the SpiderGoat.

The strands are strong, listen Sarge
get enough and you'll tow a barge
fix your arms, your legs, or knees
just don't try to eat the cheese
hey there, there goes the SpiderGoat.

In the dim of night
they combined all the genes
Soon a cow will make steel
now that they have the means

SpiderGoat, SpiderGoat
barnyard smell and a furry coat
spins a web, in his milk
they'll be more of his ilk
hey there
wherever bones need repair
or a bald guy needs strong hair
you'll find the SpiderGoooooooooat!

-- (hmm@hmm.hmm), May 19, 2000.

Now if only we can get some spiders with goat genes to produce milk we'll be all set! 'Course the goat -er- spider herders will have to get used to dealing with all those icky webs.

-- (Cyber@Squat.com), May 19, 2000.

If this goes astray could we get a spider the size of a goat? It'll give a new meaning to 'cleaning the cobwebs out of the corners'.

-- r (r.1@juno.com), May 19, 2000.

hmmmm,

Now that was out-freeking-standing! LOLOL!

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), May 19, 2000.

hmm, I second Uncle Deedah's sentiment. Spiderman was my favorite cartoon hero (did I say "was"). Unfortunately, some of the consequences of genetic engineering may be considerably less delightful than your parody.

-- David L (bumpkin@dnet.net), May 19, 2000.