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Science Technology

Silkworms Spin Yarn With Human Protein 26

Posted by timothy from the creepy-dreams dept.
Makarand writes "Genetically engineered silkworms were able to weave the human protein collagen into their cocoons according to this online article in nature magazine. The human protein ,used in applications like artificial skin and and wound dressings, could be then extracted from the silk yarn using a simple chemical process. This technique could effectively replace the current expensive processes of reaping human therapeutic proteins from bioreactors in the future. Countries that have an established sericulture industry could convert their production facilities to produce medically useful proteins."
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Silkworms Spin Yarn With Human Protein More

Silkworms Spin Yarn With Human Protein

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  • Skin (Score:4, Funny)

    by Spock the Baptist ( 455355 ) on Monday December 16, 2002 @06:02PM (#4902250) Journal
    Gives an new meaning to the phrase "Skin as smooth as silk."

  • Converting to a different use? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Spudley ( 171066 ) on Monday December 16, 2002 @06:02PM (#4902255) Homepage Journal
    Countries that have an established sericulture industry could convert their production facilities to produce medically useful proteins.

    So does this mean that silk ties will suddenly get much more expensive?

    • Countries that have an established sericulture industry could convert their production facilities to produce medically useful proteins.

      So does this mean that silk ties will suddenly get much more expensive?

      Nope. They have goats [slashdot.org] for that.

  • This story depresses me. (Score:5, Funny)

    by L. VeGas ( 580015 ) on Monday December 16, 2002 @06:11PM (#4902380) Homepage Journal
    Nobody is interested in my worm's protein.

  • Ekk (Score:1)

    by EdMack ( 626543 )
    Ever see spiders in banana crates? Well, what if when taking up from the operation you notice...
  • Anybody else read the word "bioreactors" and think of The Matrix?

  • humans v. nature (Score:5, Interesting)

    by MacAndrew ( 463832 ) on Monday December 16, 2002 @07:04PM (#4902891) Homepage
    Remarkable how we humans struggle to achieve artificial materials and processes, yet periodically return to strictly natural ones for their superiority. I'm not promoting the naturalistic fallacy -- that natural = better -- but it strikes me as a reminder of the power of evolution to produce sophisticated and even elegant processes.

    Notice how cotton and wool have never quite been displaced as clothing. I was explaining the inferiority of polyester to my son at Target today ... I wondered why all the kids sleepwear was poly. They're treated for fire-resistance on the one hand, yet melt into your skin on the other.

    I'm also reminded of our discovery of ways to hijack bacterial cellular machinery to produce insulin (Humulin [lillydiabetes.com]) about 20 years ago. (I don't understand the article's reference to insulin produced from "mammalian cells grown in expensive bioreactors" -- it's plain old E. Coli [rxlist.com] which, although ubiquitous in humans (coli = colon), has a career of its own. The author may be thinking of conventional porcine insulin, a slaughterhouse byproduct, but that's not "grown in expensive bioreactors." Maybe I misunderstand.)

    We have a while until we develop Start Trek-level nanobots, and are stuck asking nature for a hand with selected problems.

    • Re:humans v. nature (Score:1, Interesting)

      by Anonymous Coward
      I think it remarkable that anyone could call natural the act of putting human DNA into a silk worm, but I do understand your point.

      I think nano technology will continue to be very biological. I can't believe nanobots will look like tiny machines as they do in Star Trek. They will look like bugs.

      • I think it remarkable that anyone could call natural the act of putting human DNA into a silk worm, but I do understand your point.

        Good point. So ... was Frankenstein natural? I guess the parts were all technically human, but don't forget the swapped brain and revive-from-the-dead part.

        I think of rDNA used in this way as just inventing a new yoke for the oxen. With developing new lifeforms, well, then you tread the line between ... Man and God [lightning flashes in background; maniacal laughter echoes in the darkness]. :)

        The nanobots did look a bit like electron micrographs I've seen of virus particles, as well as their grasp-and-inject motion. Making them out of metal? Who knows?
    • Hey, why design an entire machine from absolute scratch when you can modify something (an organism) that already does almost everything you want. Even better, it replicates itself!
    • Notice how cotton and wool have never quite been displaced as clothing. I was explaining the inferiority of polyester to my son at Target today ... I wondered why all the kids sleepwear was poly. They're treated for fire-resistance on the one hand, yet melt into your skin on the other.

      It's like everything else, things have appropriate times and places.

      Hickers and backpackers have a motto: "Cotton kills". Cotton does not insulate when it is wet, but polyester does. (Wool does too, but wool is scratchy and heavy. Polyester is light and comfy.) Nearly every weekend, the rangers have to medivac someone off a trail somewhere in California because they went out unprepared in just a cotton T and jeans -- and got rained on in a mountain squall. They get wet, cold, and then hypothermic. It's usually not actually fatal but it can be if you don't get warm quickly, and it's damn uncomfortable, not to mention scary.

      I have several sets of lightweight polyester long underear that I carry on a trail just in case. They are VERY lightweight, they can be rolled up small in a day pack, they are cheaper and more durable than silk, but they'll save your but if something happens. Look for them at an REI or Northface store, they're great.

      Teach your kids that everything is good for something, you just have to know what. They'll have fewer hang-ups later in life.

      • Good points. Note that I did say "inferiority" not irrelevance. I've done my share of northern winters and always come back to wool. If I become a "hicker" (your word :) I'll consider poly (yech).

        And 90% of my clothes, sheets, towels and so one will remain cotton. (Or, for suits, wool.) This is the product of experimentation over the years. I would like to see the environmental impact of both products reduced or, of course, a decent substitute.

        Teach your kids that everything is good for something

        Serial murder?

  • To avoid confusion... (Score:3, Funny)

    by Yarn ( 75 ) on Monday December 16, 2002 @07:56PM (#4903361) Homepage
    I'd like to point out this has nothing to do with me.

    Regards,

    Yarn.

  • Great. (Score:2, Funny)

    by flux4 ( 157463 )
    It was bad enough that I had to worry about unexpected silicone ingredients in the opposite sex. Now I'll have to wonder if her skin came from a WORM...
  • they're working on goats that produce spider silk protien in their milk that can be filtered out and spun into silk. Googled: goats milk spider silk [google.com]
    • I remember reading about this quite some time ago too... however - much as I'd like to check that link - I'm at work right now and wary of anything that has "goat" in it when posted on slashdot.
      If anyone else checks it and finds it to be ok, let me know, otherwise I'll wait until returning home.

      In regards to the spidergoats though... what happens in they are not milked regularly... wouldn't the buildup be dangerous as silk is somewhat less liquid/etc than mulk.
  • Looks like the spidergoats [slashdot.org] have some new bunkmates! Play nice you two.

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