Spider silk is spun by silkworms for the first time

September 25, 2023 9:26 PM

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.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (17 comments total)

FINALLY.

jeesh
posted by chronkite at 10:08 PM on September 25, 2023 [5 favorites]

There's something extremely sci-fi about GM silkworms producing kevlar. Like, that's definitely what you outfit your high-tech assassin with, right?
posted by BungaDunga at 10:19 PM on September 25, 2023 [10 favorites]

Great, they gave the trans-species spider worms glowing red eyes. Just in time for Halloween.
posted by wakannai at 10:30 PM on September 25, 2023 [2 favorites]

Silkworms have already been bred to produce such thick cocoons that they can’t cut their way out of them, so I suppose not much viability is lost by making the cocoons utterly inescapable.
posted by jamjam at 11:07 PM on September 25, 2023 [1 favorite]

But if they ever do evolve the ability to get out of their spider silk cocoons, watch out!
posted by jamjam at 11:25 PM on September 25, 2023 [2 favorites]

Great, they gave the trans-species spider worms glowing red eyes.

A-and bulletproof vests!
posted by chavenet at 1:23 AM on September 26, 2023 [1 favorite]

Spider-worm, Spider-worm, does whatever a spider can...
posted by AndrewInDC at 6:04 AM on September 26, 2023 [1 favorite]

Spider-worm, spider worm
Forms whatever a spider forms
Spins some silk, a different kind
Spider silk from its behind
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 6:45 AM on September 26, 2023 [12 favorites]

Which reminds me…What happened to those GM spider goats with the silky milk?

Spider goat, spider goat
This GM animal gets my vote
Is her milk meant to drink?
What's in it is not what you'd think.
posted by adamrice at 7:01 AM on September 26, 2023 [9 favorites]

Well now I know spider webs have skin. Gee, thanks science jerks.

While the industrial and medicinal (and military?) uses for this are cool, my inner goth wants to wear this as a floor length black cape. They don't mention fashion though.
posted by adept256 at 8:23 AM on September 26, 2023 [1 favorite]

What happened to those GM spider goats with the silky milk?

I always thought it was funny that there was a specific gene sequence that could transform a spider spinneret into a goat's mammary gland and vice versa, as though it were as simple as writing MILK on a chalkboard, erasing the "M" and scribbling in an "S".
posted by Strange Interlude at 8:23 AM on September 26, 2023 [13 favorites]

I'm not particularly impressed with the forced reeling. Seems ethically dubious when considering the potential industrial scale involved.
posted by neonamber at 8:40 AM on September 26, 2023

According to Wired in the early 90s, cows were supposed to be pumping that stuff out by the gallon by now
posted by Cookiebastard at 10:17 AM on September 26, 2023

They don't mention fashion though.

It’s so hard to beat this (previously).
posted by clew at 10:44 AM on September 26, 2023 [1 favorite]

Which reminds me…What happened to those GM spider goats with the silky milk?

You don't want to know.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 12:50 PM on September 26, 2023

According to Wired in the early 90s, cows were supposed to be pumping that stuff out by the gallon by now

That assumed a spherical cow and...well we know how that turned out.
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 1:13 PM on September 26, 2023

We must send spies to steal these worms and smuggle them via the Silk Road to Europe!
posted by srboisvert at 6:00 PM on September 26, 2023 [1 favorite]