Silkworm genome research towards a new silkroad

  • kaiko
  • kaiko
  • kaiko

Silkworm belongs to the group of insects that includes butterfly and moth, particularly the family of moths known as Bombycidae. Silkworm was first domesticated in ancient China about 5000 years ago from a wild silkmoth known as “kuwako”. Subsequent domestication and breeding led to the development of improved and superior varieties. The silkworm larva hardly moves so that even if the food is depleted, silkworm can survive until food becomes available. An adult moth that comes out of the cocoon has a pair of wings which is almost degenerated and could not function for flying. For this reason, the silkworm is entirely dependent on humans for survival.