Peter Parker, watch out. You have competition from scientists at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), who are seeking to create super-materials based on the dragline silk of the black widow spider. The widow's dragline is much stronger than other spider silks and can absorb enormous amounts of energy. UCR's Office of Technology Commercialization has filed a patent application on the gene sequences for proteins in the silk, hoping to unlock its secrets.
If the researchers can reproduce the proteins synthetically (by inserting the genetic sequences into host organisms such as bacteria, plants, or animals), pure silk proteins could be harvested and manufactured into silk fibers, which potentially would possess the same amazing properties as spider-spun silk. Applications are wide ranging - from lightweight, high-strength body armor to high-tech athletic gear.
