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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Foxy Brown on May 10, 2007, 06:55:44 AM

Title: Mutant worms spin coloured silk
Post by: Foxy Brown on May 10, 2007, 06:55:44 AM

Japanese scientists say they have genetically engineered silkworms to produce a specific colour. (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1917473.htm)

Title: Re: Mutant worms spin coloured silk
Post by: kiikoi on May 10, 2007, 07:06:52 AM

wow i'm.....speechless XD

Title: Re: Mutant worms spin coloured silk
Post by: edhead999 on May 10, 2007, 07:14:24 AM

I thought carotenoid pigments were more of an orangeish color... that's what you get for having a flake of a Bio professor.

Getting off topic, but they had something a while ago at the LA Zoo where they made Flamincos different colors... it was really amusing.

Title: Re: Mutant worms spin coloured silk
Post by: nop on May 10, 2007, 09:16:53 AM

It seems that they cannot produce blue-ish color silkworm yet.  And it may not be color-fast.  Natural color may not be strong enough for fashion.

Title: Re: Mutant worms spin coloured silk
Post by: glcorps2002 on May 11, 2007, 03:51:08 PM

Maybe it can be used in displays?

Title: Re: Mutant worms spin coloured silk
Post by: Dragonlord on May 11, 2007, 10:24:12 PM

hmmm it would be easier just to dye the silk instead of going against mother nature.

Title: Re: Mutant worms spin coloured silk
Post by: schol3s on May 13, 2007, 03:07:05 PM

but it will be more interesting see reddish silk coming out of the worms mouth....

Title: Re: Mutant worms spin coloured silk
Post by: marktobias on May 13, 2007, 03:37:58 PM

It's another one of those "We'll do it because we can" things :) Gotta love those scientists!

Title: Re: Mutant worms spin coloured silk
Post by: MurasakiNeko on May 13, 2007, 05:37:32 PM

Pix or it didn't happen.