A bio-art project to create bulletproof skin has given a Utah State researcher even more hope his genetically engineered spider silk can be used to help surgeons heal large wounds and create artificial tendons and ligaments.
Researcher Randy Lewis and his collaborators gained worldwide attention recently when they found a commercially viable way to manufacture silk fibers using goats and silkworms that had spider genes inserted into their makeup.
Spider silk is one of the strongest fibers known and five times stronger than steel. Lewis' fibers are not that strong but much stronger than silk spun by ordinary worms.
With Lewis' help, Dutch artist Jalila Essaidi conducted an experiment weaving a lattice of human skin cells and silk that was capable of stopping bullets fired at reduced speeds.
(Image: AP. This undated high-speed camera image provided by Jalila Essaidi shows a .22 caliber bullet hitting but not breaking the “bulletproof” skin... ) (continue reading at YahooNews)
Imagine the possibilities!
Wait, what? Spider silk from GOATS? Then I read the article - goat SPIDERS.
I was wondering when goats started spinning webs.
Posted by: The Watcher | August 21, 2011 at 06:09 PM
Okay, my mistake. Looks like the 'goat-silk' actually comes in the milk of goats which have spider-silk-producing genes in them.
Posted by: The Watcher | August 21, 2011 at 06:12 PM
And this is LESS confusing?
Posted by: David (DW) | August 21, 2011 at 07:19 PM
Maybe the left could use this stuff to thicken up their skins a little. They seem to be able to dish it out but not take it very well.
Posted by: New Attitude. | August 22, 2011 at 10:53 AM
That's just unbelievable, wow, hope it works out.
Posted by: MK | August 23, 2011 at 01:06 AM
I think I'd heard about this somewhere else too.
Freakin' crazy...
Posted by: Paul | November 26, 2011 at 06:15 PM