Scientists modify silkworms to spin silk twice as strong (Yahoo! News)

Tougher and stronger material is a hybrid of silkworm and spider-produced silks

Spiders don't just dance well; they also spin remarkably tougher silk than silkworms do. Unfortunately, they're also cannibalistic and territorial, making then unsuitable for commercial silk farming. Scientists from the University of Notre Dame, University of Wyoming, and Kraig BioCraft Laboratories believe they've created the answer to that problem in the form of genetically-modified silkworms that can spin material twice as tough as regular silk.

Recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research details how the scientists inserted spider silk genes into the silkworms. The resulting insect still looks like its normal counterparts, except it has glowing red eyes instead of the usual black. The material this worm produces is a hybrid of its own silk and that of a spider's.

In the future, the hybrid silk can be used to make sutures, stronger bandages, and artificial limbs. Outside of its medical applications, it can also be used for parachutes, bulletproof vests, athletic clothing, and strong lightweight fabrics.

[Image credit: Wikimedia]

[via Science Daily, Discover Magazine]

This article was written by Mariella Moon and originally appeared on Tecca

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