Spider Silk

Spider SilkKyle Steen

Benefits

Took 70 people 4 years to produce 11 foot by 4 foot textile.Better ways?Harvesting

Milk contains proteins for spider silk. Refined to link proteins together in long chains.Transgenic Goats

Freckles the spider-goat

Ethically do humans have the right to genetically modify animals for their own benefit and profit?Modifying human genetics.Cons

Human skin modified to be tougher with spider silk.

Creation of diseaseAlzheimers, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and ParkinsonsWill farmers try to sell the refined goat milk for human consumption?Cons

Cheaper replacement for KEVLAR.Bullet proof vestsElectronics industryGood replacement for siliconMedical materialJaw and eye surgeries

ProsKEVLAR Vest

Continue production of spider silk from goats.Control breeding so there isnt an overwhelming population.Carefully monitor health of goats to make sure diseases dont develop.If milk is to be sold for human consumption, it must be approved by the FDA.Mediation

"Alan Constant." E-mail interview. 29 Oct. 2012.Beringer, John E. "Journal of Applied Ecology."Wiley Online Library. N.p., 25 Dec. 2001. Web. 4 Nov. 2012. Chan, Amanda L. "'Bullet-Proof Skin', Made With Spider Silk And Goat's Milk, Created By Scientists."The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 18 Aug. 2011. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. Dennis, Melvin B., Jr. "Welfare Issues of Genetically Modified Animals." ILAR Journal 43.2 (2002): 101. Print.Eenennaam, Alison Van. "Genetically Engineered Animals: An Overview." Agricultural Biotechnology. N.p., 22 June 2008. Web. 4 Dec. 2012.The Goats with Spider Genes and Silk in Their Milk. Dir. Adam Rutherford. Perf. Adam Rutherford.BBC News. BBC, 17 Jan. 2012. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. Klimas, Liz. "Pandemic Possible? Scientist Genetically Modifies Bird Flu With Scary Results."The Blaze. N.p., 28 Nov. 2011. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. Leggett, Hadley. "1 Million Spiders Make Golden Silk for Rare Cloth."Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, 23 Sept. 2009. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. Mann, Adam. "Spider Silk Could Weave Biodegradable Computer Chips." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, 10 Oct. 0012. Web. 04 Dec. 2012.Nieuwenhuys, Ed. "The Spider."The Spider. N.p., Dec. 2011. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. O'Brien, Miles, and Marsha Walton. "Research Areas."Nsf.gov. N.p., 03 May 2010. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. Robin, Suzanne. "Risks & Side Effects of Genetically Modified Food." LIVESTRONG.COM. Livestrong, 26 Apr. 2011. Web. 04 Dec. 2012."Spider Silk May Be Used to Build Electronics of the Future." Mashable. N.p., 13 Mar. 2012. Web. 04 Dec. 2012.

Works Cited