Genetically modified bacteria can produce super-durable spider silk for making space suits

Scientists have found a way to transform the bacterial gene to create a super strong spider silk.

According to a research report, although spider silk gives higher material strength than steel, in the same volume, the yield of spider silk obtained from farming is too small - therefore, Finding a real solution to a mass production of this material will likely lead to the prospect of creating a durable fabric or even a new generation of space clothing.

The silk thread is created by spiders.(Source: Chicago Art Research Institute / Youtube).

Concentrating a large number of spiders enough to produce the required silk production will lead to their tendency to eat each other. Editing bacterial genes so that they can produce spider silk instead of spiders - now a common production process - and this has been rejected.

'In nature, there are many types of protein materials that contain amazing mechanical properties, but their supply is too limited , ' said Dr Fuzhong Zhang, lead researcher in the report.

'Our lab specializes in microbial engineering aimed at not only producing this material successfully, but also making it better.'

To overcome the previous limitations, the researchers isolated gene cells in spider silk fibers into smaller units that could re-assemble themselves when they were integrated into the bacterial genome, according to the content. The report was presented on Tuesday at the Spring Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

With this method, scientists have successfully developed a new spider silk that yields 2 grams of silk per liter of genetically engineered bacteria, giving it the same strength as real spider silk.

Super durable spider silk fabricated in the laboratory.(Source: Livescience.com).

Although this level of output is not really high, the report suggests that this has been a significant improvement over other efforts to find a way to mass produce spider silk.

However, if this study expands, NASA may want to bring this bacterium into space missions in the future, providing astronauts with a new source of materials to serve the public. maintenance work.

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