Chinese Scientists Make Genetically Engineered Silkworms Produce Spider Silk

Chinese scientists have succeeded in enabling genetically engineered silkworms to produce spider silk, reported The Telegraph. Spider silk is of extreme importance for its toughness. Spider silk is six times tougher than Kevlar which is used in bullet-proof jackets.

Spider silk produced through this process can produce an environment-friendly alternative to synthetic commercial fibre such as nylon.

Spider silk fibre could be used to create garments, innovative tougher bullet-proof vests, as well as other materials for use in biomedical engineering or aerospace technology.

The Chinese researchers introduced spider silk protein genes into the genetic material of silkworms, enabling the silkworms to produce spider silk.