Spinning Synthetic Silk

Jun-06-15 By using yeast and sugar to create a synthetic silk, the startup Bolt Threads hopes to offer an improved alternative to the natural versions.

Growing silk in the lab lets design teams have control over the production of the material, allowing the silk to be “fine-tuned” for certain textiles. The silk being manufactured by Bolt Threads is grown in fermenters (similar to those used in brewing beer) using yeast that have been engineered to make the silk protein. Since the synthetic silk can be engineered to meet specific needs, the company believes it could even be used to replace material made from petroleum, like nylon.

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[WIRED.COM]
[BOLTTHREADS.COM]

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