Move over Charlotte—there’s a new kid in town: Genetically Modified Silk-Producing Goats

“The difference between utility and utility plus beauty is the difference between telephone wires and the spider web.”

 –Edwin Way Teale

The unlikely merging of goats and spiders [Credit: National Science Foundation]

Perhaps in no other creature has the dichotomy of human fascination and revulsion with the natural world been so pronounced as in the common spider. In the creation of such memorable characters as Shelob of Lord of the Rings and Aragog of Harry Potter, as well as rather more sympathetic portrayals like Charlotte of Charlotte’s Web, humans immortalize their bizarre love-hate relationship with spiders. These weird and wonderful creatures have long been the subject of intrigue for one primary reason—their incredible ability to spin webs from spider silk.

Even those who would happily have nothing to do with spiders can marvel at the gossamer beauty of a newly- spun spider web. Spider silk is stronger than steel, a property that has caused spiders to be the subject of intense study by bioengineers, who foresee its use in medical and military applications, as well as scientists who are determined to pave the way for a certain beloved arachnoid superhero (and actually may be well on their way to it). And it seems studies have paid off in one extraordinarily important and unexpected way: silk-producing goats.

According to a recent article from the Berkeley Science Review, past attempts to harvest spider silk have been hampered by the territoriality of spiders and the sheer tedium of gathering large numbers of spiders. Noting these difficulties, Randy Lewis, a molecular biologist at Utah State University, decided to place the gene that makes the protein responsible for producing dragline silk in goats, which they would then harvest from the goats’ milk. The researchers were successful—several of the transgenic goats were able to produce the protein with no other side effects.

Randy Lewis with a silk-producing goat kid

The article emphasizes the future benefits of such research. Spider silk can eventually become a cheaper and stronger alternative to Kevlar, especially due to its unique adhesion properties that allow it to hold up underwater, a discovery that may drastically change military technology as we know it. In a grander scheme, silk can potentially be used to suture wounds and, mind-bogglingly, even to build bridges.

In spite of these benefits, many question the ethics of using animals in scientific experiments. Are we justified in genetically modifying animals in such a manner, arrogantly "playing God" simply for our own gain? How do we draw the limits of such experimentation? The answer is a complex “troubled middle,” as Emily Anthes points out in her delightful and absorbing book Frankenstein’s Cat. She argues that the most ethical method is to evaluate each biotechnological application as it comes and to keep the best interests of the animals in mind through humane treatment. After all, there is no knowing what the possible future benefits are of such research. Indeed, the results of such studies could actually positively impact the very animals upon which we are experimenting. As Anthes states, “We’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible.”

References:

Anthes, Emily. (2013). Frankenstein’s Cat: Cuddling Up to Biotech’s Brave New Beasts. New York, NY: Scientific American FSG. 

Boatman, Liz. (2012). “Bridges made of spider silk? You can thank the goats for that.” Berkeley Science Review. Retrieved from: http://sciencereview.berkeley.edu/bridges-made-of-spider-silk-you-can-thank-the-goats-for-that/.