20 MILLION Year-Old Spider!! Unweaving Spider Silk

The video explores the fascinating world of spider silk, highlighting its incredible strength and versatility. Dr. Cheryl Hayashi explains the various types of silk produced by spiders, particularly the Golden Orb-Weaver, and the unique protein structures that give silk its properties. The video delves into the evolutionary history of spider silk, showcasing fossil evidence and discussing its diverse applications. It also covers the mechanical testing of silk and experimental efforts to replicate its production in other organisms, emphasizing the unmatched ingenuity of nature.

What makes spider silk stronger than many human-engineered materials?

• Its size

• Its invisibility

• Its color

• Its protein structure

How many types of silk can the Golden Orb-Weaver produce?

• Nine

• Three

• Five

• Seven

What is the function of the 'dragline' silk?

• To act as a safety line

• To wrap eggs

• To camouflage

• To trap prey

What is the primary component of spider silk?

• Nucleic acids

• Lipids

• Carbohydrates

• Proteins

What evolutionary advantage does ballooning provide to spiders?

• Long-distance travel

• Camouflage

• Faster web construction

• Increased strength

What is a unique feature of spider silk proteins?

• They are made of carbohydrates

• They are identical in all spiders

• They have a repetitive amino acid sequence

• They are liquid at room temperature

How are scientists attempting to replicate spider silk?

• By using synthetic fibers

• By extracting silk from plants

• By using chemical reactions

• By genetically modifying organisms