Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc, a leader in spider silk biotechnology, has made a major scientific breakthrough by engineering the largest known spider silk gene insert into silkworms. This advancement nearly doubles the previous record, paving the way for next-generation high-performance silk fibers.
Led by Xiaoli Zhang, the research team has significantly expanded the potential of spider silk technology. "By increasing the size of the inserted genes, we are unlocking new material properties beyond what is currently achievable," said Zhang.
The achievement allows for the production of larger, more complex proteins, enhancing the strength, flexibility, and overall performance of spider silk fibers. Kraig Labs sees this as a key step toward developing advanced biomaterials for industrial, defense, and performance textile applications.
While pushing the boundaries of genetic engineering, Kraig Labs remains focused on commercializing its current recombinant spider silk production strains. The company is scaling up production to meet market demand while continuing research on future innovations.
"Our mission is to commercialize existing spider silk technology while pioneering the next generation of biomaterials," said CEO and founder Kim Thompson. "This breakthrough underscores our long-term vision and research expertise."
As Kraig Labs accelerates its recombinant spider silk production, it will provide updates on both commercialization efforts and ongoing advancements in biomaterial science.
