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Fancy standing in the line of fire wearing a bullet-proof vest made from goat's milk? Thought not. But that's just what people are about to do, thanks to the daughters of two proud billy goats called Webster and Peter. Their remarkable genetic heritage has given them an amazing gift. They can express spider's silk in their milk.

How did the scientists do it?

In a scenario reminiscent of a 50s sci-fi movie, Canadian biotechnology company Nexia decided to inject the DNA of an Orb spider into the eggs of a goat before fertilisation. The resulting billy goats were Webster and Peter. When they bred, their daughters could express silk protein in their milk - and scientists could extract it as a white powder and spin it into fibre.

What were they thinking of?

On first inspection, making 'web-slinging' goats seems bizarre and irrational. Why would the world need them? The answer is simple: spider's silk is stronger and more flexible than steel - but arachnids aren't the perfect farmyard pets. Enter the genetically-modified goat.

What can goat silk be used for?

The goats can produce several grams of the protein a day. As a fibre, the silk is highly versatile and can be used for anything from surgical stitching to weaving bullet-proof vests. So in the future, goats' milk really could save you from a speeding bullet.