What do you think of biosteel?!
What do you think of biosteel?
You're probably wondering why I'm asking this in the vegetarian/vegan section, but it is a valid question. Biosteel is made by genetically altering a goat to produce the protein that helps a spider make its web/silk. They are hoping that it will be a greener alternative to what is used now to make bullet-proof vests. I am just wondering what anyone that comes to this section might think of this innovation. Is it wrong because of the way the goats are used/altered, or is it one of those "necessary evils" to help man-kind?
Answers:
I read somewhere about this, and it struck me as disgusting. They can probably do it in a lab just as easily, but are using goats for attention, because most people don't think of the goat, and just think that it's pretty cool to have a goat that produces silk. They also have casein-based cloth. When this stuff becomes available to the public I'll be the most old-fashioned person I know. Since there will still be vegans though, there will still be demand for synthetic or cotton options. That's the only good thing that I can think of.
I'm horrified by the idea. Things like this just go to show how little respect the human race has for animals.
There is no such thing as a "necessary evil" towards animals. If we can't use something that occurs naturally in order to live, then we should live without it!
I'm sure that if they put enough money into it, they could produce this protein in the lab using only artificial methods for the same result, without harming an animal.
I'm opposed to all transgenic creations because the methods currently used cannot insure that the genes don't 'go wild' and spread to other organisms! Look at Monsanto and their round-up resistant creations for an example. The gene they added to soy, wheat and corn is now turning up in the weeds! Starlink corn (modified to produce B.T. proteins) has spread the gene to other plants and the gene has even been found in insects!
I'd suggest you investigate how "bio-engineering" is done and look up "plasmids" to help you understand just how bad this idea is. One possible and plausible example would be that E.coli, Salmonella or Listeria bacteria pick up the plasmid used to transfer spider web genes into the goat. Those bacteria begin producing the protein and use a shell of this material to protect them from antibiotics and disinfectants.
Do you think that would help mankind? Or maybe just the pocketbooks of the corporations?