Just when we think we’ve seen it all, science – and God’s creations – surprise us. We’ve talked before about how interesting and effective spider silk is. There are actually seven different types of spider silk, all intended for different purposes. Scientists have studied spider silk for years and even used it to develop body armor that’s more bullet resistant than Kevlar. But as we approach National Save a Spider Day (March 14), a new study from King’s College London And San Diego State University gives the world startling new information.
Breaking the Bonds
Spider silk is roughly five times stronger than steel by weight but is much more flexible. It can also absorb quite a large amount of energy before breaking. Scientists have studied spider silk for years attempting to adapt its properties for synthetic body armor, surgical sutures, airplanes, prosthetics, implants, even communication.
What King’s College and SDSU discovered that was hitherto unknown is the specific molecular interactions that give spider silk its unique strength and flexibility. Two amino acids: tyrosine and arginine, interact, causing the silk proteins in what spiders spin to cluster together at the earliest stages. What's more, once those clusters are formed, they do not break apart.
"What surprised us was that silk -- something we usually think of as a beautifully simple natural fiber -- actually relies on a very sophisticated molecular trick," explains Gregory Holland, professor of physical and analytical chemistry at SDSU. "The same kinds of interactions we discovered are used in neurotransmitter receptors and hormone signaling."
Further, researchers point out the structure of spider silk mirrors mechanisms found in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. Understanding that structure better may allow them to reverse-engineer it and possibly lead to better treatments for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Spin Doctors
The only problem with these large, long-range studies of spider silk is that spiders themselves are aggressive and cannibalistic. If you try to keep a bunch of spiders together in order to get a large sample of their silk, they eventually attack and devour each other. Thankfully, that’s a problem they’ve already solved.
A few years ago, Utah State University researchers discovered a way to alter the DNA of silkworms so that spider proteins could be incorporated into the silk threads produced by the silkworms. This new hybrid spider silk produced by silkworms is not quite as strong or resilient as traditional spider silk, but it’s double the strength of silkworm silk. And it can be mass produced.
At Kraig Biocraft Laboratories in Lansing, Michigan, genetically engineered silkworms produce a new form of spider silk they call “Dragon Silk” that could make the fictional bulletproof three-piece suits seen in the John Wick movies a reality. And some scientists in 2022 claimed to have developed a hybrid silkworm silk that was 70% stronger than spider silk.
Spider silk could also be key to truly biodegradable food packaging. Researchers at Aalto University and VTT Technical Research Centre in Finland combined birch wood cellulose fibers with spider silk proteins. The resulting material was similar to plastic but fully biologic and biodegradable. It can be used in place of plastics and utilized for stitches in surgery. The material could also be fabricated into knee and hip implants that are absorbed into the body, rather than needing to be surgically removed like the titanium implants used currently.
And who knows what other clues scientists might find to improve our lives as they continue to dig into the processes God created in nature. Insects really do deserve our respect.
Bye Bye Bugs
Still, we know you don’t want spiders in your house, even though they’re fantastic at natural pest control. Blame it on genetics, humans just don’t like spiders as a rule. Thankfully, spiders are one of the typical insect invaders we handle here at Good News Pest Solutions with our Green Perimeter Plus service. It eliminates spiders, ants, roaches, silverfish and more. All at an affordable price and safe for your family and pets. For more information, or to schedule your first appointment, please give us a call!