Scientists May Have Solved the Secret of Silk

Reuters ^ | Wed, Aug 27, 2003

[presidio9]

Scientists say they may have worked out how spiders and silkworms are able to produce such strong fibers to spin their webs and cocoons.

They say that if they are right, their research could be used to produce silk in the laboratory for extra-strong protective clothing, sports equipment and even replacement bone tissue.

Silk is the strongest natural fiber known to man but scientists have yet to replicate its strength. They have managed to purify silk into powder but have not been able to turn it into material.

"The problem is that when people take these purified powders and try to make useful materials, they fall well short," said David Kaplan, professor of biomedical engineering at Tufts University in Massachusetts.

Kaplan and his team say the secret to silk production lies in how spiders and silkworms control silk protein solubility in their glands.

"The entire process is controlled by the amount of water, which is so simple," he told Reuters.

"The organism dumps protein into the gland but as it does that, it regulates how much water it leaves in there. That controls the entire process."

He said the research, published in this week's edition of science journal Nature, could have far-reaching applications, particularly in medicine.

Bioengineers at Tufts have already developed a strategy for using silk to repair damaged knee ligaments and say it could also be used to make artificial bone tissue.

Kaplan said some companies had expressed an interest in using silk to make ultra-strong clothing, hiking gear and outdoor equipment.

[Charles H. (The_r0nin)]

Some of you guys really weird me out...

;-P

[shaggy eel]

everybody knows...they just don't talk about it.

,,, so there's a limit to what they can say with their mouth full [of silk]?

[null and void]

the Giant Vile Politician Roach-Motel Web of Retribution...of the Muttly Kind.

nully likes!

[shaggy eel]

,,, thanx for being you.

[PoorMuttly]

I may have a few extras if my experiments work out as planned. Will keep you and your State in mind.

[PoorMuttly]

so...now that you know what animals think...maybe vegetarianism isn't such a bad thing after all...right ?!

(more food for US !)

[Calvin Locke]

...Tufts University ...

Yeah, right.

This is the same school that let out (unaccounted for inventory of live specimens?) all of its imported tent
caterpillars (aka Gypsy Moths) when deemed unsuitable for silk.

[kitkat]

***One never knows...DO one ?!! ***

Muttly, have you been reading Archie McNally books again?

[null and void]

Much obliged...

[PoorMuttly]

Well...I think I accidentally ate one last week. Does that count ?

I thought you actually had to read stuff to know what's in it...oh right...Lazmataz..he NEVER reads the article before posting. So...I guess it's possible. I suppose now my Master's parakeet will be getting the Nobel Prize in Journalism, because of all the direct hits he's made on the N.Y. Times.

[SunkenCiv]

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