- Spider silk has fascinated researchers for its unique properties in the way that it captures a flying missile (flying insects).
- The silk elongates and absorbs the energy of the prey. If you consider the weight, speed and size of the fly and the individual fibre that it is captured in, the strength-to-weight is off the scale.
- Scientists have now genetically engineered silkworms to produce spider silk and created gloves using this spider silk. These gloves will soon undergo strength testing.
- Spider silk could used to provide new types of protection to soldiers beyond the conventional Kevlar vests. If one silkworm is genetically engineered, its descendants could all carry the gene to produce spider silk.
- Read at:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/spider-silk-may-spin-bulletproof-material/article6161263.ece
Exams Perspective:
- Spider Silk
- Genetically Engineered Silkworms
- Kevlar Materials