Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: paul.fr on 20/03/2007 00:01:53

Title: Are spider webs edible, for spiders or humans?
Post by: paul.fr on 20/03/2007 00:01:53

If spider webs are mainly made out of protein, does that make them edible? Not that i would want to eat one myself, but here is a web that could fill you up!

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs262%2Fpf0604%2Fspiderweb.jpg&hash=5dce8e64fb8b745339bfbc953b2d59f6)

Title: Spider Webs...Yummy!
Post by: another_someone on 20/03/2007 02:03:06

Don't forget that ricin is a protein also - not all proteins are so nutritious.

Title: Re: Spider Webs...Yummy!
Post by: Monox D. I-Fly on 05/09/2016 04:58:30

Quote from: paul.fr on 20/03/2007 00:01:53

If spider webs are mainly made out of protein, does that make them edible? Not that i would want to eat one myself, but here is a web that could fill you up!

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs262%2Fpf0604%2Fspiderweb.jpg&hash=5dce8e64fb8b745339bfbc953b2d59f6)

Ummm... Some days ago I read an encyclopedia that says that the liquid to make spider webs is actually its sperm... And sperms are made out of protein too... Ugh, I must stop before I break any rules...

Title: Re: Spider Webs...Yummy!
Post by: chris on 07/09/2016 09:35:29

No spider webs are not made from sperm. Sperms are living cells. Webs are made from proteins, which are polymer molecules and orders of magnitude smaller than sperm cells.

Title: Re: Are spider webs edible, for spiders or humans?
Post by: evan_au on 07/09/2016 11:34:20

Quote from: paul.fr

Are spider webs edible for spiders?

Apparently some spiders eat their own web and respin it, every day.
Recycling in action!
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_web#Silk_production
A video of a spider taking down its web (and eating it):

Title: Re: Are spider webs edible, for spiders or humans?
Post by: Villi on 09/09/2016 01:35:24

The protein can be broken down in our stomach's acid.