Spider silk properties tracked from genes to fibre mechanics

Spider major ampullate silk (MA) is natures’ toughest fibre. There is thus immense interest among scientists across different fields in the attainment of an understanding about why and how spiders produce such amazing fibres. Accordingly there are now many publications on MA silk genetic expression patterns, secondary and tertiary protein structures, silk fibre physical and…

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Uruguay trip 1

Uruguay trip (May 19-June 10)   I am now 3 weeks in to a 7 week Uruguayan research and teaching trip.  While I had planned to update the events of the trip weekly, it wasn’t to be. My hosts Luis, Mariángeles, Marcos and Carmen have planned a very busy schedule. I’ll sum up the past…

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Uruguay trip 2- Silk course

From June 25 to June 30 I conducted a ‘Silk Biology’ course at the Centro Universitario de Rivera, Rivera, Uruguay with Dr Luis Fernando Garcia, Dr Mariángeles Lacava, Prof Carmen Viera, and Dr Marco Benamú. We had nine students attend from different parts of Uruguay, as well as Argentina and Mexico. The week was intensive,…

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