Horizontal Gene Transfer

[ced.feluda]

Is it possible to successfully exchange the genes of a man and a spider by Horizontal Gene Transfer? How far the humans are capable of using this genetic technology? No, I'm not talking about SpiderMan and other things. I'm asking for opinions about whether the stuff is possible at all or not. The webbing of a spider is controlled by a good number of genes. Is it possible to get transferred to the human chromosomes?

[mchlbrmn]

Green fluorescent protein from jelly fish can be expressed in mammalian cells, so spiders' genes should be as easy. It is possible that any individual protein may not work exactly the same if, for example, modifications such as sugars being added on, or phoshorylations are different in the new cell the gene is put into, but we do have the same genetic code and should be able to make proteins that spider genes code for. However, to spin a web requires an entire organ, the spinaret (sp?), and complex behaviour, so even if we can make the relevant individual genes, to control them all in the right way, express them at the right time in development and mesh with our other genes and tissues and nervous system to create an entirely new functional organ is something our technology isn't up to yet.