Spider Moth, Spider Moth, does whatever a Spider Moth does. Spin a cocoon, just his size. Makes flame retardant underpants, for the good guys. Spider Moth, Spider Moth, look out! here come's the Spider Moth....
Anyway..... So. This one's interesting. Apparently there is a laboratory in Michigan - the Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, to be exact- that is genetically modifying moth DNA at the egg and sperm stage so that the resultant moths will make spider silk, instead of moth silk. They've named them Monster Moths.
Now moth silk, as we know it is pretty awesome. Light weight, cool, but warm, moisture wicking and it does have it's own level of flame retardance. But spider silk is all that and more. It's incredibly more strong, for one, and really hard to harvest for another. Stronger silk equals tougher clothing, clothing they think will have military purposes, as well as civilian purposes. Monster Moth silk ties, anyone? To match your military issue Monster Moth silk under pants? So, I suppose that's why these amazing scientists are making GMO moths. It's all for the money! But what isn't all for the money these day's?
Now, I'm not a really big fan of the whole GMO thing, but I found this pretty cool.
Please check out the site I originally found this on! There's more info there. And a picture. They have pinkish red little eyes and 4 wings...
~Kara
"They have been engineered with red eyes so scientists can tell them apart from conventional moths" Also, so they could more justify calling them MONSTER moths.
ReplyDeleteha! that too! They're weird looking little beasts.
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