Silk

Silk is a natural protein fiber produced by silkworms and other insects. Its fine, strong filaments are spun into textiles and used in other materials.

Fibroin: Fibroin is the structural protein that forms the core of most silk fibers. Its tightly packed protein chains give silkworm silk much of its strength.
Bombyx mori: Bombyx mori is the domesticated silkmoth species whose larvae produce most commercial silk. Its long, continuous cocoon filaments made large-scale reeling possible.
Silk reeling: Silk reeling is the unwinding and combining of continuous filaments from silkworm cocoons. It converts cocoons into the raw thread used for woven silk fabric.
Cotton: Cotton is a plant-derived cellulose fiber used widely in textiles. Unlike silk, cotton fibers come from seed hairs rather than animal proteins.
Sericin: Sericin is a gummy protein coating that binds the paired fibroin filaments in a silkworm cocoon. Removing this coating during degumming reveals the silk filament.
Sericulture: Sericulture is the raising of silkworms and cultivation of mulberry trees for silk production. It turns the silkmoth life cycle into a managed source of raw silk.
Silk weaving: Silk weaving is the interlacing of silk threads to create cloth. Weaving turns reeled filaments into fabrics with varied textures and patterns.
Wool: Wool is a keratin fiber obtained chiefly from sheep and other mammals. Its crimp and scale structure differ from silk’s smooth protein filaments.
Beta sheet: A beta sheet is a protein structure formed by aligned, hydrogen-bonded strands. Fibroin’s beta-sheet regions help resist stretching and breaking.
Silk Road: The Silk Road was a network of trade routes connecting East Asia with Central Asia and the Mediterranean. Silk became one of the most valued goods moving along these routes.

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