Why don't we harvest spiders' webs for use?
Question
Watching The Discovery Channel, I heard that webs from spiders are stronger and lighter than steel. So why don’t we harvest this and use it to create ropes?Shams, The City
Answer
** Definitive **
Name: Ruth, Bromley
Qualification: Studied bio-technology at university
Answer: This is actually done, but they can’t harvest the web’s silk directly from spiders, as they produce such tiny amounts. One company has genetically modified sheep, putting the gene from spiders into them and they are producing the silk in their milk. They then harvest this and use it for soldiers’ armour etc.
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