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c/biology · by BlastedBadger@mander.xyz · 2y

Spider silk is spun by silkworms for the first time, offering a green alternative to synthetic fibers

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1001587

Ah, Crispr-Cas9 is convenient.

103 points · 12 comments · view on lemmy.world

12 Comments

Caradoc879@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 2y (5 replies)

What would large-scale production look like? Consumer clothing? Could we get $20 silk shirts eventually? I think most the reason plastic fibers are so prevalent is because their cheap. People would definitely flock to nicer feeling clothing if it was the same price.

WhyIDie@kbin.social · 5 pts · 2y (1 reply)

I couldn't seem to find it in the article, but I hope it wasn't like I previously saw: silkworms being boiled alive en masse

g6d3np81@kbin.social · 7 pts · 2y

High-strength and ultra-tough whole spider silk fibers spun from transgenic silkworms
The worms still get killed though not en masse... yet.

TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y (1 reply)

it doesn't seem so. this would be effectively much stronger, more expensive silk. but maybe it can be produced in very large quantities

massive_bereavement@kbin.social · 7 pts · 2y

Working at the silk-spider farms sounds both 70s Sci-Fi and something my parents would have threaten me with if I dind't do my homework.

acockworkorange@mander.xyz · 1 pts · 2y

Pretty sure the goal is to replace fibers in composite high tensile strength engineering materials. Not for everyday clothing.

g6d3np81@kbin.social · 11 pts · 2y (1 reply)

Next, find a way to make them leave cocoon intact for better yield, then breed the moth so they don't have to modify the next generation.

I also find this quite funny.

but when he saw the silkworms’ eyes glowing red under the fluorescence microscope—a sign that the gene editing had been successful

gullible@kbin.social · 5 pts · 2y

Eternally juvenile silkworms, the seedless grape of the fabric industry.

Eheran@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 2y (2 replies)

Very interesting. But note that toughness is not a very meaningful metric for fibers. Nobody is wearing kevlar or dyneema clothes.

Given that silk is already established but fairly nich, I assume the same will happen for this fibre. Maybe it can replace kevlar, I don't know enough to say if that is realistic. Thermal stability will not be nearly as good, stiffness is unknown. Anyone got deeper insights?

g6d3np81@kbin.social · 2 pts · 2y (1 reply)

If looking at strength alone, maybe everyday clothing can be made with less material... maybe.

Will have to wait and see if it can be made at industrial scale.

silentknyght@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 2y

We are probably near the minimum already, at least in terms of area/volume (rather than mass). Too few fibers and you're wearing a mesh net, and not a tee-shirt.

Kowowow@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 2y

I wonder how it'll compare to the open source spider silk yeast being worked on the by the thought emporium guy