Chapter 1
The biology of the silkworm
Chapter 2
The ancient art of sericulture
Chapter 3
Secrets of the Silk Road
Chapter 4
Modern science and high-tech silk
YOUR GOAL
Master of The story of silk
Ch 4 · Modern science and high-tech silk
schopenhauer High-tech silk
Spun into chips, bio-organic drips, silk that feels and lives!
schopenhauer Scientists insert spider genes into silkworms to produce ultra-strong hybrid silks.
schopenhauer Silk proteins are used in medicine to build artificial skin, sutures, and implants.
BETA
schopenhauer Drag the liquid silk proteins to learn how silkworms spin their incredibly strong cocoons.
Fun Fact
Spider silk strength: Dragline spider silk is five times stronger than steel of the same weight and highly elastic.
Glossary
fibroin (noun)
An insoluble protein that constitutes the principal structural component of natural silk fibers. In 2012, Tufts University researchers used this protein to develop fully biodegradable, dissolvable medical implants.
An insoluble protein that constitutes the principal structural component of natural silk fibers. In 2012, Tufts University researchers used this protein to develop fully biodegradable, dissolvable medical implants.
Quiz
Why are silk sutures preferred by surgeons for certain delicate medical procedures?
Quiz
Why is it practically impossible to farm spiders for their silk like we do silkworms?
Quiz
What gene-editing tool do scientists use to insert spider genes into silkworms?
Quiz
What organism is engineered in labs to ferment and produce animal-free silk proteins?
Quiz
Which specific silk protein is highly bio-compatible and used to make medical implants?
Quiz
In what unexpected form can liquid silk proteins be used in the beauty industry?