biomaterial
- Tuning orb spider glycoprotein glue performance to habitat humidity
Summary: Viscous capture thread extends an orb spider's phenotype as a highly integrated complex of large proteins and small molecules that function as a self-assembling, highly tuned, environmentally responsive, adhesive biomaterial.
- Humidity-mediated changes in an orb spider's glycoprotein adhesive impact prey retention time
Highlighted Article: Changes in orb spider adhesive thread performance with humidity translate into differences in prey retention times, allowing natural selection to tune a species' web to the humidity of its habitat.