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Spider Silk Genetically Engineered

Posted by michael on from the smooth-operator dept.

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."

9 of 48 comments (clear)

  1. Accessories by pipingguy · · Score: 4, Funny


    Is anyone working on a wrist-mounted launching device for this stuff?

    1. Re:Accessories by pragma_x · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Let me preface this by saying that I am not a chemist, chemical engineer or even a biologist.

      Dragline silk is made primarily of two proteins, called ADF-3 and ADF-4. These are produced in a gland in the spider's abdomen, using the same amino acids that your body uses to produce skin and hair. ADF-4 allows for the rapid production of fiber, and ADF-3 regulates this production. Each protein is made by a specific gene.

      Gat's team put these genes into a genetically engineered virus, then let the virus infect the cultured caterpillar cells. The cells produced silk proteins, and then spider fibers formed spontaneously in the petri dish.

      Looks like the stuff might be easy to spin into silk, since it does it on a molecular level on its own. Maybe all you need is these silk protiens stored in a solvent that evaporates rapidly, stored under pressure; who knows. I suppose the result wouldn't be too unlike a can of crazy string or spider-man's wrist-mounted launching device.

      Combine that with some gecko-tape gloves and shoes and you'll be fighting crime in no time.

  2. Spider silk from goats and caterpillars by beeplet · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Commercial silk comes not from spiders, but from the silk moth (spiders are hard to coral).

    And spider silk doesn't come from spiders either - Nexia used transgenic goats (which secreted the silk proteins in their milk) and this group is using transgenic caterpillar cells. I just think this is an interesting story in the context of the recent stories on genetic chimeras. Now if they could create a transgenic animal that would actually spin the spider silk, they's be all set!

  3. Wake me up... by centauri · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... when I can buy a charcoal black uniform with arachnofiber weave.

    --
    Don't blame me, I voted for Durga.
  4. How long.... by failedlogic · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Before my Spidey sense is tingling!" really becomes a pickup line?

  5. Obligatory Spelling Nazi post.... by Wandering+Wombat · · Score: 3, Insightful
    It's "corral", not "coral". Coral is dead sea creatures.... corral is a place for storing animals, and also the act of storing animals.

    I really can't believe I'm so anal as to not only notice the error, but point it out to this extent. Thats what I get for being a spelling bee champ marrying into a farming family.

    --
    I like to place meaningful quotes in my sig, so people will know that I know what meaningful quotes are.
  6. Tough to "Coral" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    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.

  7. who are these hacks? by my_fake_account · · Score: 3, Interesting

    "Spiders, being territorial, are impossible to domesticate."

    Horses, dogs, cats, and chickens are all territorial, but they've been domesticated.

    Do they have editors at this magazine?

  8. It's all in the spinning by gbulmash · · Score: 3, Interesting
    According to an article on the spider silk goats, way back when, the proteins were fine, but the real trick was in the extrusion. The way the spiders spin the proteins into the final product is a *major* factor in the strength and versatility of the silk. It's not just spinning them into silk that's the trick, there's a certain finesse to it that they don't seem to have quite right yet.

    - Greg

    --
    Start a happiness pandemic