6.

Spider Silk from Goats and Silk Worms

Scientists have found a way to express spider silk protein in goats. BioSteel
was a trademark for a high strength recombinant spider-like protein of
transgenic goats. It was made by Nexia, and later by the Randy Lewis lab of
the University of Wyoming and Utah State University.

At the University of Wyoming, a team led by Dr Donald Jarvis has also

successfully modified silkworms in order to make them spin stronger silk that
contains spider proteins. This makes the silk much more elastic and extensible,
opening up a wide range of applications including textiles, bandages for
burn victims, and even bullet-proof vests.

Previously, spider silk proteins have been produced by transgenic bacteria

and other natural cells, but the all attempts to incorporate them into fibers
spun by silkworms have resulted in very low yields. However the teams new
method, which was reported in Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences, has seen the creation of fibers that are at least as tough as spider
silk and stronger than those spun by silkworms.

Spider silk has exceptional mechanical properties. What makes silk so unique
lies in the nano-scale. The molecular structure determines silk elasticity and
simultaneously makes silk resistant to rupture by mechanical force. It is five
times stronger than steel, and can stretch up to 20 times its size without losing
its strength properties.

In medical applications, spider silk can be used as sutures, wound dressings,

artificial ligaments, tendons, microcapsules, etc. Strands of spider silk have
also been used by a Japanese researcher to create violin strings that have a
unique and thrilling sound.

Resources:

Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z07dB3sKTs&list=TLLpuAnn4cJDo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2B_QHGIOZo&list=TLLpuAnn4cJDo
Molecular Biomechanics: Spider Silk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te606w8nC3M&list=TLKJej7xsbke8
Articles
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21540-spider-silk-spun-into-violin-
strings.html#.UilN6dfbPIU
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BioSteel
Scientists have found a way to express spider silk protein in goats. BioSteel
was a trademark for a high strength ( ) spider-like protein of
transgenic goats. It was made by Nexia, and later by the Randy Lewis lab of
the University of Wyoming and Utah State University.

At the University of Wyoming, a team led by Dr Donald Jarvis has also

successfully modified silkworms ( ) make them spin stronger silk
that contains spider proteins. This makes the silk much more elastic and
extensible, ( ) a wide range of applications including textiles,
bandages for burn victims, and even bullet-proof vests.

( ), spider silk proteins have been produced by transgenic

bacteria and other natural cells, but the all attempts to ( ) them
into fibers spun by silkworms have resulted in very low yields. However the
teams new method, which was reported in Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences, has seen the creation of fibers that are at least as
tough as spider silk and stronger than those spun by silkworms.

Spider silk has ( ) mechanical properties. What makes silk so

unique lies in the nano-scale. The molecular structure determines silk elasticity
and ( ) makes silk resistant to rupture by mechanical force. It is
five times stronger than steel, and can stretch up to 20 times its size without
losing its strength properties.

In medical applications, ( ) can be used as sutures, wound

dressings, artificial ligaments, tendons, microcapsules, etc. Strands of spider
silk have also been used by a Japanese researcher to create violin strings
that have a unique and thrilling sound.

Previously Exceptional Simultaneously

Incorporate in order to Recombinant
Opening up Spider silk
Synonym Match : match the following synonyms from the article
1. trademark a. result
2. extensible b. characteristics
3. victims c. brand
4. incorporate d. sufferers
5. proceeding e. ecstasy
6. exceptional f. uncommon
7. preperties g. stretchable
8. thrilling h. power
9. strength i. smallest
10. least j. include