Spider silk has been grown from genetically modified cells for the first time. The research company behind the feat believes it opens the way for the manufacture of super-strong, light and biodegradable materials within a few years.
Nexia, based in Canada, is also breeding goats that have been genetically modified with spider genes and hopes that their milk will be a plentiful source of the proteins required for spider silk. Nexia says that the modified goats have bred females that are now pregnant themselves, but will not reveal whether these are producing milk or whether it contains the necessary proteins.