Spider Silk
Channel: Science Ping
Date: 18/12/2018

Since the time of the ancient Greeks, humans have been using spider silk to dress wounds. Scientists now know spider webs not only have healing qualities, they can be stronger than steel!  University of Wyoming Molecular Biologist Randy Lewis adds an almost science fiction aspect to the study of spider silk: making large quantities of it by “growing it” in goat’s milk.  With funding from the National Science Foundation, Lewis has cloned and sequenced genes for the proteins that make up five different spider silks, some stronger than Kevlar, others more elastic than nylon.  Spider silk is also antimicrobial, hypoallergenic and completely biodegradable. The gene for “spider dragline silk” has been introduced into the cells of goats by non-viral methods. The goats excrete the spider silk protein in their milk. Several goats with this gene were born in Lewis’s lab in late January 2010.

Provided by the National Science Foundation

Subscribe: http://bit.ly/scienceping
Website: https://scienceping.com

Join Us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/sciencefacebook
Join Us on Google +: http://bit.ly/Sciencegoogle
Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ping_science
Support our studio:
We are a synthetic science channel. Provide scientific knowledge about all aspects of life, for you, and your family.
We're dedicated to unearthing facts, debunking myths and on an unstoppable search for scientific truth. Learn about outer space, leading scientific exploration, new technology, earth science basics, & more. 
Science Ping is as much a source for learning as it is a playground for experiment, connects you to the science that's all around us.
We upload Monday to Sunday! So to stay tuned with these exclusive videos make sure you hit the subscribe button.