Bombyx mori the molecular identification of the first known pheromone, bombykol, which required extracts from 500,000 individuals, due to the very small quantities of pheromone produced by any individual worm. Currently, research is focusing on genetics of silkworms and the possibility of genetic engineering. Many hundreds of strains are maintained, and over 400 Mendelian mutations have been described. Another source suggests 1,000 inbred domesticated strains are kept worldwide. One useful development for the silk industry is silkworms that can feed on food other than mulberry leaves, including an artificial diet. Research on the genome also raises the possibility of genetically engineering silkworms
The Silkworm to stage his disappearance, rewrote "Bombyx Mori", killed Quine and framed Leonora for the crime. Tassel attempts to flee the party only to be quickly caught and arrested, which Strike and Robin planned in advance. Sometime later, Leonora is released from prison, Fancourt acknowledges the original "Bombyx Mori" manuscript's literary value, and Strike tells Robin that he enrolled her in investigative training courses as a Christmas gift. Much like "The Cuckoo's Calling", "The Silkworm" was met with critical acclaim, selling more copies than its predecessor in its opening weeks. Val McDermid from "The Guardian" gave the novel a positive review,