Spider silk is spun by silkworms for the first time, offering a green alternative to synthetic fibers
Spider silk is spun by silkworms for the first time, offering a green alternative to synthetic fibers
Scientists in China have synthesized spider silk from genetically modified silkworms, producing fibers six times tougher than the Kevlar used in bulletproof vests. The study, published September 20 in the journal Matter, is the first to successfully produce full-length spider silk proteins using sil...
Ah, Crispr-Cas9 is convenient.
You're viewing a single thread.
What would large-scale production look like? Consumer clothing? Could we get $20 silk shirts eventually? I think most the reason plastic fibers are so prevalent is because their cheap. People would definitely flock to nicer feeling clothing if it was the same price.
I couldn't seem to find it in the article, but I hope it wasn't like I previously saw: silkworms being boiled alive en masse
High-strength and ultra-tough whole spider silk fibers spun from transgenic silkworms
The worms still get killed though not en masse... yet.
it doesn't seem so. this would be effectively much stronger, more expensive silk. but maybe it can be produced in very large quantities
Working at the silk-spider farms sounds both 70s Sci-Fi and something my parents would have threaten me with if I dind't do my homework.
Pretty sure the goal is to replace fibers in composite high tensile strength engineering materials. Not for everyday clothing.