Kraig Biocraft Laboratories

Kim Kraig Thompson invented the protein expression platform in 2002, which would become the basis for Kraig Lab’s work with spider silk.[4] Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. was then founded by Kim Thompson in April 2006 to develop and commercialize spider silks and other high performance polymers gene and sequences using platform technology in combination with genetic engineering concepts personally developed by Kim Thompson.[5] Kraig Labs has successfully created numerous (approximately 20 by 2010) transgenic silkworm variants expressing different properties derived from the spider silk proteins.

The original scientific work to reduce Mr. Thompson’s invention to practice was performed in the biological laboratories of the University of Notre Dame. University laboratories were chosen because the Company, in its early stage, lacked adequate financing to establish a private laboratory and hire molecular biologists of the caliber required for the work. Mr. Thompson negotiated an agreement with the University under which the Company brought its basic designs to the University and paid for lab time in exchange for an exclusive global license on the technology developed.[6] The University of Notre Dame was chosen in large part because the co-inventor of the PiggyBac transposon system, Dr. Malcom Fraser was in residence there. This transposon was utilized by Kraig Labs and the University of Notre Dame to create the world’s first transgenic silkworm producing recombinant spider silk. This work was subsequently the subject of a peer review article in the Publication of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).[7]

The Company's production platform is based upon genetic modification of the domesticated silk worm (Bombyx mori). In interviews, the Company’s founder has stated that this decision was based largely on economics and the practicality of production. By utilizing the silkworm as the basis of production, the Company is able to produce the desired spider silk protein and have the silkworm spin it into a continuous fiber. Each individual transgenic silkworm produces one continuous fiber approximately one Kilometer in length.

In 2020, Kraig Labs successfully developed a significantly more advanced technology platform. The new platform technology utilized a non-CRISPR gene editing, large plasmid knock-in knock-out technology. The new platform allows for the creation of essentially pure spider silk. Other than the silkworm’s remaining specifically desired native silk protein elements, Kraig Labs is now able to produce nearly pure spider silk.[8] This is also an eco-friendlier and cost-effective silkworm production system, which is significantly more advanced than any of the competing methods. The knock-in knock-out technology allows Kraig Labs to work with very complex protein sequences in the silkworms, which are about four times more complex than published technologies. The Company’s Generation III Spider Silk Technology is purposed for specific customization.[8]

Kraig Labs originally used the PiggyBac Transposon plasmid vector that was developed in collaboration with the University of Notre Dame.[9] In all methods, specific sequences of spider DNA are inserted into the genetic makeup of the silkworm to create a silkworm that produces spider silk. That transgenic silkworm is then used as the basis for establishing a genetic line silkworms that also produce spider silk.[10] Kriag Biocraft is able to customize the sequences that it inserts into the silkworm, thus giving them the ability to customize the resulting silk thread’s strength, flexibility and possibly other properties.[11]

Silk with strength equaling native spider silk has potential applications such as: car airbags, bulletproof vests, seat belts, parachutes, nets, and sporting goods and sporting apparel. There are also numerous medical applications for the recombinant silk. Potential uses in the medical industry are bandages that have the ability to reduce scarring versus using traditional bandages.[12] The silk could even be used as a scaffolding material for artificial tendon and ligament repair.[13]

• CEO, Kim Thompson, was recently recognized as one of MyTechMag magazine’s top 20 pioneering CEO’s of 2019.[14]
• First US Army Contract Awarded 2016.[15]
• ITMA Future Materials Award 15 - Finalist Best Innovation Sustainable Textiles.[16]
• ITMA Future Materials Award 15 - Finalist Most Innovative Small Company.[17]
• ITMA Future Materials Award 15 - Finalist Best Innovation- Protective Textiles.[17]

• Kraig Biocraft Laboratories achieves Knock-in Knock-out Success to create nearly Pure Spider Silk
• Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Achieves Production Goal to Create Nearly Pure Spider Silk
• Kraig Labs claims spider silk breakthrough
• Kraig Biocraft Laboratories takes Measures to Support Furloughed Staff and Their Communities
• Kraig scales up breeding silkworms for super-strong ‘spider silk’
• Meet the Transgenic Silkworms That Are Spinning Out Spider Silk
• Silkworms transformed with chimeric silkworm/spider silk genes spin composite silk fibers with improved mechanical properties
• Quality Fabric Of The Month: Spider Silk — Potential Unleashed | Textile World
• Quality Fabric Of The Month: Spider Silk — Potential Unleashed | Textile World
• University of Notre Dame | College of Science
• Notre Dame and University of Wyoming scientists genetically engineer silkworms to produce artificial spider silk
• Scientists Compare Rat Genome With Human, Mouse
• National Institutes of Health website
• SAGE Labs
• Mutant Worms Produce Piles of Spider Silk
• Kraig Biocraft
• Kraig Biocraft
• Wayback Machine