What is the advantage of expressing the spider silk protein in silkworms?

• A. The silk fibers are stronger than normal silk
• B. The silk is weaker
• C. The silk is produced more slowly
• D. The silk consists of the same proteins as normal silk

Answer: (A)

Using silkworms as a production system to express spider silk protein lets us combine the ease of farming silkworms with the exceptional properties of spider silk. Spider silk proteins form strong beta-sheet structures that give high tensile strength and toughness, so fibers spun from silk containing those proteins are markedly stronger than ordinary silkworm silk. The advantage isn’t about slower production or identical protein composition to normal silk; it’s about the enhanced mechanical strength gained by incorporating spider silk proteins into the silk fibers.