Spider Silk Genetically Engineered

An anonymous reader writes "Commercial silk comes not from spiders, but from the silk moth (spiders are hard to coral). But spider silk is stronger, so engineers, including in the Army, would like to use it for armor, tethers, and clothing. Scientists at Nexia Biotechnologies bioengineered some in 2002, but in a two-step process not ready for prime time. According to a LiveScience article, a separate team has now created self-spinning spider-web fiber. More work is still needed to produce anything useful, but the researchers say it might happen within a decade."

Comments

Tough to "Coral"

[Anonymous Coward]

It's not so much that spiders are tough to corral compared with silkworms, it's that most spiders are incredibly territorial creatures. To raise silkworms, you just need some specimens and a few mulberry bushes- hundreds of silkworms will happily coexist on a bush, and eventually will grow up and spin the silk cocoons you're after. Put an equivalent number of spiders in the same space, even with ample food available, and they will kill and eat each other until all territorial disputes have been resolved to the satisfaction of all (living) parties.