Inside Biology at Lewis & Clark College:
How to Milk a Spider

In the video below, Assistant Professor Greta Binford demonstrates how to milk a spider, capturing its venom to study the evolutionary biology of this particular species.

About Greta Binford's Research

"My research program uses integrative, evolutionary approaches to better understand patterns of diversity in spider venoms. In my lab, students participate in evolutionary analysis of spider venoms at all levels of the process. This includes collecting a range of spiders in the field, doing protein analysis of the venoms, and using molecular approaches to study the genes that code for the venom proteins."

"We also are studying the evolutionary history of the spiders themselves to create a framework we can use to analyze venom evolution. Students also analyze the effects of venoms on insect prey and observe spider foraging behavior. This data helps us to better understand the role venom plays in immobilizing prey and how that varies across spider species."