.png)
.png)
.png)
Biotech Trio’s Bold Bid for T. Rex Leather Stirs Excitement and Doubt
May. 04, 2025. 1 min. read.
1 Interactions
A biotech trio claims T. rex-inspired leather will redefine luxury, but scientists doubt its dino DNA roots.
A groundbreaking partnership aims to revolutionize luxury fashion with lab-grown leather inspired by Tyrannosaurus rex, but scientists question its authenticity. VML, Lab-Grown Leather Ltd., and The Organoid Company announced their collaboration on April 25, 2025, to produce a sustainable, cruelty-free alternative to traditional leather using fossilized T. rex collagen. The process involves synthetic DNA and a scaffold-free tissue engineering method to mimic leather’s structure, targeting accessories by year-end.
The venture promises eco-friendly benefits, sidestepping deforestation and chemical tanning, with plans to expand into automotive applications. However, experts like paleontologist Mary Higby Schweitzer argue that leather derives from skin’s keratin, not just collagen, and T. rex skin samples are scarce. DNA’s rapid decay further complicates claims of using T. rex DNA, with some suggesting AI-reconstructed collagen sequences are at play.
Skeptics compare this to past biotech controversies, questioning if the product is truly dinosaur-derived or merely inspired. Despite doubts, the project’s ambition captivates, blending ancient biology with modern innovation, even if its scientific foundation remains under scrutiny.
0 Comments
0 thoughts on “Biotech Trio’s Bold Bid for T. Rex Leather Stirs Excitement and Doubt”