Can You Drink Spider Goat Milk?
WouterIt may be hard to believe, but spider goat milk is just like regular milk. However, what makes it different is that it contains an extra special protein. This special protein is used to make spider silk.
It’s not actually very difficult to extract this protein from milk. The trick is to separate the silk from the other proteins. That’s where the transgenic goat comes into play.
A team of scientists at Utah State University has modified the spider gene in the udders of goats. It’s now nestled next to a gene that prompts milk production.
While these genetic changes don’t necessarily result in super strength, they do mean that the goats can produce a lot of silk. An average goat produces about 16 grams of this protein per day.
Spider silk is a valuable protein and has a wide range of uses. It is also a very biodegradable material. In fact, it has been used for centuries as a wound dressing.
There are some interesting new uses for the protein. One of them is in parachute fabric. Another is in optics.
Researchers have studied the protein for decades. Now, they’re trying to make it commercially viable. By spinning the white powder into fiber, they can make it more practical for many applications.
To do that, they need to develop a way to get the silk out of the milk. So they’re testing several different species. They’ve even got a genetically engineered goat.
