Topic: Mysterious Spider Silk

Speaker: Professor Yang Daiwen

Availability:

May/June 2022

Synopsis:

Spider silk is a protein polymer secreted by specialized glands. The orb-web spiders employ up to seven types of abdominal glands to produce seven types of silk for various purposes, ranging from prey arrest to offspring protection in egg cases. It has attracted the attention of military, industry and the popular media because of the extraordinary mechanical properties of the silk fibers.  Scientists are gradually revealing how dragline silk is stronger than high-tensile steel, while capture spiral silk can be more elastic than rubber. Inability to domesticate spiders has driven attempts to artificially produce spider silk from proteins generated in bacteria or using genetically modified silkworm. Further understanding of silk structure-property relationship will enable large scale production of man-made spider silk.

Contact: Mr Steven Tan@65162693

Email: steventan@nus.edu.sg