January 01, 2026
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth, Germany, have discovered a way to edit spider genes so they produce red fluorescent silk. For their study, scientists used a special technology called clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas 9 to test whether altering the spiders’ genetic makeup could change the qualities of their silk. The experiment succeeded, demonstrating the potential to develop spider silks with specialised characteristics that could be used in various industries, including the textile industry.
DID YOU KNOW?
The weight of a spider species called the Goliath birdeater can reach about 170gms, making it the largest arachnid based on mass.
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