Leather like steel that cannot be pierced by a bullet.
This is the latest invention of modern biotechnologists who have managed to combine artificial skin with cobwebs. For this purpose, special genetically modified codes were derived. Further, from their milk, in which the spider gene is present, a thin thread was obtained, from which a piece of cloth was woven. Now scientists want to go even further and implant this material to volunteers. Thus, now Spiderman has ceased to be an invention of science fiction, because the combination of human skin and spider thread is now quite real. The material obtained as a result of such a combination is capable of endowing people with real superpowers. Including, this material can protect the body from bullets in caliber to 5,66.
During the experiment, the lead of the bullet was stuck in a ballistic gel, but the canvas of artificial leather with cobwebs remained unharmed. In order to see this moment, which can be fixed only by slowing down the shooting a thousand times, the scientists involved in this project spent a year of work.
Project manager, bio artist Jalila Essaidi: “I thought: since the web can be used in the production of body armor, why not try implanting the web directly into human skin? What would happen if the spider genes became part of the human gene, and people would get bulletproof? ”
Experiments with the human genome are still banned by world science, so the material was synthesized under laboratory conditions. Artificial leather has been grown for quite some time, it will not surprise anyone, but how to get a sufficient amount of web? As mentioned earlier, this problem can be solved with the help of goats, in whose genes spider genes have been added. The web is obtained from the milk of such goats. This technology is applicable to silkworms. Now the problem is only to construct a machine for knitting bullet-proof fiber from the web.
It took six months of research to create a small piece of fabric; during this time, research required the involvement of many textile equipment professionals and the use of hundreds of genetically modified insects. The world did not know anything like that. The web fits just like a sweater or scarf. This unique material in 5 is stronger than high carbon steel and is far superior in properties to Kevlar used in the production of modern body armor.
The next stage of the experiment is the transplantation of a fragment of bullet-proof skin to a volunteer. There were a lot of people willing to experiment, regardless of the ethical side of the issue.
Gert Verbeke, a volunteer: “I admire this project and therefore agree to transplant a piece of artificial leather to my hand, because I do not look at it as a medical experiment, but as a work of art that will always be with me.”
From the military interest to the masterpiece of biotechnology has not yet been detected. The main reason for this, probably, is that body armor, as before, is much cheaper than growing spider people.
Professor Bdul el Galbzuria (Center for Medicine, University of Leiden): “From a scientific point of view, it is much more important to find out how skin cells coexist with cobwebs. This knowledge is important so that we can transplant such burned skin or use these threads for stitching. ”
The project leader claims that the purpose of the work was not to create a universal soldier, but to draw public attention to the potential of modern laboratories, as well as to revive the old dispute about the relationship between science and ethics. The Dutch managed to do this with all 100%.
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