Crystal Structural Differences among Varieties of Silk Fibers

The term 'silk' refers to a wide range of filaments spun by several species of Lipidoptera and Arthropod to build structure external to the body such as cocoons and webs. Silk fibres are produced from various types of ectodermal glands found in the mites, spiders and several groups of insects. Silk is the product of silk-worm (Bombyx mori) domesticated over the past 5000 years from a wild progenitor Bombyx mandarina and it is an important source of livelihood for farmers engaged in silk production in many countries.