Replies to post #35205 on Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc (KBLB)

[es1]

I think the PR that was issued for the hybrid worms stated the silk was still stronger then normal silk but I agree that they had to lose a little of the spider when they crossed with the larger worm.

[ZincFinger]

IMHO lack of publication of a research publication does not prevent publication of the test data on the product.

The research publication is about HOW they did what they did and the data they need to protect until publication is the data on exactly how they created what they created.

I have sllready discussed what are, IMHO, the reasons the rest of the test data was not published (see my post just prior to this one).'

Re: the relative strength of Monster Silk and the silk from the Monster Hybrid.

The figure for "80% as strong as spider silk" was for Monster Silk. KBLB said that the silk from the Monster Hybird (a cross between the worms that produce Monster Silk and "large commercial worms") is less strong, which is exactly what one would expect from such a cross.

NOTE: one possible result of the 2nd round of GMs done to large commercial worms is that THEY would produce silk at LEAST as strong as Monster Silk PLUS no need to hybridize (so larger cocoons and more silk per worm, which could well be what a deal has been waiting for)and, quite possibly (due to production of higher levels of spider silk protein than the Moster Silk worms) silk considerably stronger than Monster Silk. We'll just have to wait and see.

So to make it clear: the Monster Hybrid (a cross between non commercial Monster Silk worms) is less strong than Monster SIlk

The silk of a large commercial worm GMed with the same GMs as the Monster Silk worm would probably produce the same silk as the Monster Silk worms, just more of it

The silk of a large commercial worm as above but also with the production of spider silk protein upregulated (very easy with ZFs) would produce silk stronger than Monster silk.

But we don't know exactly what GM's KBLB did in the 2nd round. He could have, for example, removed all of the worm silk protein. We'll just have to wait and see.

Of course, whatever they did was clearly aimed at improving the product, one way or another.