<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><!DOCTYPE Zthes SYSTEM "http://zthes.z3950.org/xml/zthes-05.dtd">  <Zthes><term><termId>31374430</termId><termName>silk</termName><termType>PT</termType><termNote><![CDATA[ A fine, lustrous, natural fiber obtained from the catepillar cocoons of silk moths, such as the domesticated Bombyx mori. Silkworm silk is composed of a heavy and light chain of core proteins called fibroins, which are coated by sericin, a collection of sticky, glue-like proteins.  Microscopically, raw silk appears as two strands that are held together with sericin protein. According to legend, silk was discovered by Chinese Empress Si-Ling-Shi when a cocoon fell in her tea. China maintained a monopoly on the production of silk fabric for almost 3,000 years.The worms were first cultivated in Japan about 195 CE and in Europe about 555 CE.  ]]></termNote><termCreatedDate>2026-03-30 20:40:59</termCreatedDate><relation><relationType>UF</relationType><termId>31374431</termId><termName>silkworm silk</termName><termType>ND</termType></relation><relation><relationType>BT</relationType><termId>31344366</termId><termName>fibroinous material</termName><termType>PT</termType></relation><relation><relationType>BT</relationType><termId>31411593</termId><termName>silk</termName><termType>PT</termType></relation><relation><relationType>NT</relationType><termId>31411658</termId><termName>tussah silk</termName><termType>PT</termType></relation><relation><relationType>NT</relationType><termId>31411665</termId><termName>schappe silk</termName><termType>PT</termType></relation><relation><relationType>NT</relationType><termId>31411668</termId><termName>bourette silk</termName><termType>PT</termType></relation><relation><relationType>NT</relationType><termId>31411671</termId><termName>waste silk</termName><termType>PT</termType></relation><relation><relationType>NT</relationType><termId>31411673</termId><termName>dupion</termName><termType>PT</termType></relation><relation><relationType>RT</relationType><termId>31316748</termId><termName>fibroin</termName><termType>PT</termType></relation><relation><relationType>RT</relationType><termId>31436990</termId><termName>silk</termName><termType>PT</termType></relation><relation><relationType>RT</relationType><termId>31469040</termId><termName>Bombyx</termName><termType>PT</termType></relation></term>  </Zthes>