Genetically modified silkworms produced pure spider silk

 Genetically modified silkworms produced pure spider silk

        Researchers from China have successfully used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing to modify silkworms to produce spider silk, a material known for its strength and toughness. This breakthrough spider silk, while not as strong or stretchy as natural spider silk, is significantly tougher than Kevlar and could have applications in medical sutures and bulletproof vests. However, challenges remain in mass production, including ensuring the genetic modifications are stable over generations and maintaining the health of the silkworms, which are vulnerable to infection and produce varying quality silk. The second article confirms that the silk of spiders is composed of thousands of nanostrands, each only 20 millionths of a millimeter in diameter, which could lead to advances in creating new materials for medical (such as sutures) and engineering applications.

This article is a remarkable example of how genetic engineering can create materials with enhanced properties for practical applications. The fact that this modified silk is tougher than Kevlar yet potentially suitable for medical use like sutures demonstrates the versatility and potential of biologically engineered materials. However, the challenges in mass production and ensuring consistent quality due to silkworm vulnerability highlight the complexities involved in mass producing spider silk. Modifying the genetic structure of silkworms may result in unexpected health problems or distress since their bodies are not inherently adapted to create such material. In addition, it’s important to remember that silkworms are living organisms and while technologicalmass-producing advancements are important, we should remember the consequences of turning these organisms into such biofactories.

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/first-genetically-modified-silkworms-spider-silk

https://www.science.org/content/article/spider-silk-five-times-stronger-steel-now-scientists-know-why

The Environment and Our Genes

Epigenetics is a newly emerging branch of genetics that studies how external environmental factors can affect our genes. It is defined as the “cellular and physiological phenotypic trait variations that are caused by external or environmental factors that turn genes on and off.” Scientists at a lab in Tel Aviv have discovered that “small RNA inheritance” determines the regulation of cells in between generations. They also found that when an organism is in a stressful environment i.e. lacking adequate food supply, small RNAs are passed down to the offspring. As a result, the progeny were better able to handle environments that lacked adequate amounts of food. These genes are able to be turned on and off because of a “feedback interaction” of the small RNAs. Researches are now beginning to turn their attention to human genetics to determine whether we possess an on and off switch that activates epigenetic marks. These marks can be chemical and in this process the DNA sequence is methylated (addition of a methyl group). 

 World War II has given scientists insights into the affects of famine on humans and their offspring. They found that not only did the famished women during the war have children with low birth weight, but the children of those children were also underweight at birth. Healthy unfamished women were still having underweight children even though they were healthy and this led to scientist concluding that something else was at work in this case. The researchers also found that the incidence of schizophrenia also spiked after the war. Compared with other nearby unfinished regions, the famished blockaded town had a much higher rate of schizophrenia among children. 

Not only can the food availability affect future generations, but the lifestyle of parents can affect the health of their children and grandchildren. Things like smoking have also been found to affect the health of children due to epigenetics. When a mother smokes while pregnant, a small molecule is added to a gene that inhibits its function. This may be the reason why children of mothers who smoke are often underweight at birth. Having a better understanding of epigenetics can allow us to understand how the lifestyle choices we make today can affect future offspring. 

Enviroment and Diet do affect your Genome!

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have recently done a study investigate the link between the life we lead and the body we have. They found that there are certain places on ones genome where environment and diet may affect body outcomes. An example is DNA Methylation, with has been found to leave “marks” on the genome of the heart when a traumatic event has occurred, such as a road traffic accident. With this evidence more studies can be preformed to try to alter and/or better understand the marks that DNA methylation leaves on our genome.

This study was discussed in an article on sciencedaily.com.