Genetically modified spider shoots red silk

German researchers have created the first spider genetically edited using the CRISPR-Cas9 tool, capable of shooting red silk.

Illustration of a gene-edited spider that can spin red silk - Photo: IFLScience

Scientifically speaking, spider silk is extremely strong, even five times stronger than steel cable of the same weight. In addition, spider silk is biodegradable, lightweight and elastic.

Meanwhile, CRISPR-Cas9 is a remarkable gene editing tool that has revolutionized biology and its inventors won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This gene editing tool can help precisely cut out gene segments in the genome and insert other necessary gene segments.

To genetically modify Parasteatoda tepidariorum, a common house spider, the team created an injectable solution containing a gene editing system that included a gene fragment containing a red fluorescent protein.

The solution is then injected into the egg cells of unfertilized female spiders. When these spiders mate with male spiders, they will produce a generation of genetically modified baby spiders, according to IFLScience on May 12.

Scientists have previously used CRISPR-Cas9 to create red-eyed wasps and malaria-resistant mosquitoes, but only now have they used it on spiders. That’s because spiders are difficult to work with in the lab because of their complex genetic makeup and cannibalism.

Fluorescent genes such as red fluorescent protein are often inserted into the genomes of experimental organisms, as they provide an easy indicator of whether an experiment has been successful. If the spider silk is red, the experiment was successful.

"For the first time in the world , we have demonstrated that CRISPR-Cas9 can be used to introduce a desired gene sequence into spider silk proteins, thus allowing the functionalization of these silk fibers," said Professor Thomas Scheibel, senior author of the study and working at the University of Bayreuth (Germany).

The potential for using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool on spider silk holds promise in materials science research, says Scheibel. For example, it could be used to enhance the already high strength of spider silk.

The research was published in the journal Angewandte Chemie .

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhen-chinh-sua-gene-ban-ra-to-do-20250514102203994.htm