Is the T. Rex Leather Purse Real? Scientists Debunk This Dinosaur Fashion Trend

Three companies have teamed up to create a luxury alternative to traditional leather, but their approach is anything but ordinary. On April 25, creative agency VML collaborated with biotech firms Lab-Grown Leather Ltd. and The Organoid Company. Their goal is to develop a cruelty-free, environmentally friendly alternative, potentially using DNA from the Tyrannosaurus rex.

The partnership aims to blend ancient biology with modern technology. However, details on their methods remain unclear, raising skepticism among researchers. “Using fossilized T-Rex collagen as a template will involve engineering cells with synthetic DNA,” the companies claimed. They suggest this technique could yield a material closely resembling real leather, unlike other bio-based alternatives.

Collagen, a key protein found in animals, offers structural support to various tissues. While fragments of dinosaur collagen have been discovered in fossils over 195 million years old, DNA decays much faster. This makes it challenging for scientists to study it directly. In response, the team at VML plans to utilize artificial intelligence to recreate T. rex collagen based on preserved fragments.

Christina Agapakis, a synthetic biologist from Harvard, explained that researchers might reconstruct DNA sequences from collagen, allowing them to insert this into cells. These cells are expected to generate something akin to T. rex skin. However, Agapakis notes that producing leather from cells has historically been tough.

Yet, there’s a significant issue: “You can’t make leather from collagen,” says Mary Higby Schweitzer, a molecular paleontologist. According to her, leather is made from skin, which primarily contains keratin, not collagen. She points out that there’s a lack of preserved skin samples of T. rex, making the claimed process less credible. “It would be wrong to call it T. rex leather,” she stated.

Despite these concerns, bio-engineered leather may still have environmental benefits. Traditional leather production contributes to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. For eco-conscious consumers, thrifted options or items made from recycled materials offer sustainable alternatives. “If I want something unique, I’d choose a lab-grown leather derived from a 68-million-year-old T. rex sample,” Agapakis said, emphasizing the project’s novelty.

The companies are starting with fashion accessories and plan to expand into luxury goods by year-end. They also envision applications in industries like automotive. This partnership echoes a recent project by Colossal Biosciences, which claims to have resurrected extinct dire wolves, igniting debates about the authenticity of their claims.

Skepticism surrounds VML’s project too. Critics wonder if the leather will truly mimic T. rex skin or if it’s merely inspired by dinosaurs. Ultimately, these ventures highlight a trend where scientific innovation meets marketing, often blurring the line between reality and hype.

For more insight into collagen and its benefits, you can check out the [Cleveland Clinic article](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23089-collagen).

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Fashion,Genetics,Leather,Tyrannosaurus Rex