Date of Award:

5-2016

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Biology

Committee Chair(s)

Randolph V. Lewis

Committee

Randolph V. Lewis

Committee

Jon Takemoto

Committee

H. Scott Hinton

Abstract

Orb-weaving spiders create a glue which is secreted onto the web to capture and retain insects. This glue is made from aggregate protein. Aggregate glue is sticky when wet and can stretch far when pulled at slow speeds, and pull back with a greater force if pulled at high speeds which helps it achieve its purpose as the adhesive that keeps insects in the web. These features also make it an attractive target for applications such as a surgical glue or underwater adhesive. Unfortunately, very little is known about the aggregate glue gene, and knowledge of the genetic sequence is necessary to create a synthetic aggregate glue. In this work, a method is identified that will likely be able to find the rest of the glue sequence. In addition, using what is known about the gene, a synthetic glue sequence was extrapolated and used to create a synthetic glue using bacteria. Finally, this glue has begun preliminary testing as an adhesive.

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