Spider Goat Farm, United States

You can also find an original farm in Utah State University. At first sight, it is difficult to understand why this farm is unique and very original, as main animals are ordinary goats. In reality, the goats living on the farm are unique, genetically modified animals which have been inoculated with spider gene.

The goats living on the farm have got a gene of the silk spider (Nephila comaci). Externally, these animals look just like ordinary goats. The main characteristic of the goats is that they give milk containing Nephila comaci silk. All the milk produced on the farm is recycled. Silk contained in milk is separated in a special way and is used for production of various materials and products. Silk made by spiders is actively used in the production of fishing line, surgical thread, parachutes and even bullet-proof vests.

Getting spider silk in a sufficient ammout for industrial use is acomplex process. The problem is that spiders cannot be successfully bred. For many years scientists have been trying to create a spider farm. But all their attempts failed. Spiders can not live in a common space, and therefore kill each other. The best solution to this problem has been found by Professor of Molecular Biology, Randy Lewis. He brought DNA of silk spiders to goats in such a way that they produced the necessary protein with milk. Scientists do not want to stand still in the achievements and are currently working to bring silk genes to plants and to instill the Adelphocoris lineolatus gene. Next - Black Ivory Coffee Farm