Spider silk synthesized by 1999, revolutionize clothing, construction and medical industries.
This claim is very straightforward and not open to a lot of guesswork. The judging date of 1/1/99 indicates that both the synthesis and the revolutions in clothing, construction, and medical industries must be accomplished by the judging date.
As to what is a revolution, I think we'll cross that bridge when and if we come to it.
http://search.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1997-07/21/123l-072197-idx.html
http://www.lplizard.com/ealbers/biology/silk.html
http://www.news.cornell.edu/general/Jan96/alanine.hrs.txt
