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by Chloe Cabral
Transgenic goats (a.k.a. "spider goats") are goats that have been genetically modified to produce spider-silk proteins in their milk. This has allowed scientists to produce a high-strength fibre-based material known as "Biosteel".
action plan
1. Take the gene from a spider that directs the production of a protein in dragline silk.
2. Remove the nucleus of a cell from goat A.
3. Fuse that nucleus with the spider gene.
4. Remove the nucleus from a fertilized donor ovum coming from goat B.
5. Insert the genetically manipulated nucleus into the fertilized donor ovum.
6. Ovum divides.
7. Goat C grows and matures (carries spider gene).
8. Goat C gives birth to goat D (transgenic goat).
9. Goat D matures and is milked (milk contains spider-silk proteins).
10. Proteins get filtered out of the milk, then get refined, dried, and spun onto a roller.
We can create a plan to maintain the judiciary regulations and sustainability in Canada while ensuring transgenic goats are being created in ethical manners.
Using transgenic goats only for the purpose of creating Biosteel for experimental or research uses.
If we can continue the practice of creating transgenic goats while abiding the rules of this simple plan of action we can ensure that the animal rights of these goats are protected.
This plan can consist of, but is in no way restricted to...
Ensuring that there is absolutely no harm being inflicted on the transgenic goats as a result of these experimental procedures.
Searching for other silk-producing alternatives such as alfalfa plants for the purpose of mass production.
Can he swing from a thread?
Take a look overhead,
Hey there!
There goes the Spider-Goat!
Rules & regulations
Since genetically modifying organisms is an ethical issue, the government has created rules and regulations for it.
It could also cause issues in the environment; if mass amounts of transgenic goats created for the production of Biosteel, it could impact the existing goat population.
Some think that the use of transgenic goats could possibly have negative long-term effects on the goats, or on humans themselves as a result of these applications.
Many people debate about whether or not it is ethical to continue to alter goats' DNA in order to conduct research.
The use of spider DNA for human medical purposes could possibly existing human DNA or even create a new species of human.
As it stands at the moment, transgenic-goat silk is still in its experimental/ testing stage. Although it is suitable for many uses, it has a very high potential for medical uses due to its properties.
The University of Waterloo has stated that, " All researchers affiliated with the University of Waterloo who plan to use live non-human vertebrate animals in research... must receive prior ethics approval of the project from the Animal Care Committee (ACC)."
This rule has been enforced by the institution, "...to ensure compliance with guidelines of the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) [as well as] the Animals for Research Act."
Therefore, an application for, "Animal Utilization Project Protocol is completed..., and must be submitted with supporting documentation to the ACC at least one month ahead of the anticipated start date to allow time for initial ethics review."
Here are some pieces of documentation regarding the protocols used when handling transgenic animals...
The Government of Canada has also imposed many more rules and regulation which are outlined in the Animals For Research Act.
Potential Risks
1. Disease transmission
2. Body may take longer to heal
1. Biosteel is extremely strong and elastic
3. Possibility of altering human DNA or creating a new human species
2. The silk is suitable to be used to replace and repair torn/damaged ligaments and tendons
4. All standard risks for surgery (i.e. infection, loss of range of motion, pain, stiffness, weakness, blood clotting, etc.)
3. It is biocompatible so the chance of the human body rejecting it is reduced
4. Surgery time is reduced compared to autograft surgery which reduces risk of heart failure
5. There is no real scientific proof that this method will work properly
5. Genetically altering the goats' DNA does not have any negative effects on the goat nor does it harm them in any way
Allograft surgery (using tissue from a donor or cadaver to repair parts of a person`s body)
Autograft surgery (using one`s own tissue to repair other parts of the body)
Some Alternatives Include...
Although Biosteel has a great potential for uses in the medical industry, one must wonder whether it is better than its alternatives...
Risks of Autograft and Allograft Surgery
1. All standard surgery risks (i.e. pain, blood clots, bleeding, infection, loss of range of motion)
Benefits of autograft and allograft surgery
1. Transplant comes from the same species
2. Method has been proven scientifically over many decades
3. Natural Transplant
2. Improper healing if the human body reject the transplant
4. Lower chance of human body rejecting the transplant compared to biosteel (Autograft has the lowest chance)
5. [Autograft] Highest success rate for full recovery
3. [Allograft] May take longer for the body to heal compared to autograft surgery
4. [Allograft] Disease transmission
5. [Allograft] Donor tissue may not always be available
6. [Autograft] Increased risk of heart failure due to longer surgery time