6 times stronger than body armor: silkworms with spider genes spin bulletproof web (3 photos)

New environmentally friendly material could replace synthetic fibers in the future





Scientists from Donghua University (PRC) have created genetically modified silkworm caterpillars capable of spinning threads spider webs that are six times stronger than Kevlar, a synthetic material, which is used in body armor. Researchers about their achievement told in Matter magazine.

People have been breeding silkworms for thousands of years for their cocoons that they weave when pupating. The cocoon shell consists of continuous silk thread, the length of which can reach one and a half kilometers. However, this thread breaks easily. At the same time with spiders it’s different problem - the threads of their web are very strong, but spiders cannot breed: if a hundred silkworm caterpillars can coexist peacefully in one small space, a hundred spiders, once locked up, will begin fight each other until one of them remains alive.



In an attempt to combine the benefits of silkworms and spiders in one organism, scientists created transgenic caterpillars. In their DNA the gene encoding the main silk thread protein was replaced by the MiSp gene, which encodes the protein of the arachnoid filament in cross spiders that live in East Asia.



As a result, genetically modified silkworms spin a spider's thread of incredible strength, flexibility and durability, which its qualities are many times higher than existing synthetic materials.

Scientists hope that these natural superfibers will be able to to become an environmentally friendly alternative in the near future artificial fibers that pollute the environment.