ENGINEERS USE DINOSAUR DNA TO CREATE T-REX LEATHER HANDBAGS
One of the most sought-after materials for luxury products is leather. However, it has a significant negative impact on the environment, and that's before we consider the suffering it causes animals. With the aid of a long-extinct animal—T-Rex leather—creative firm VML, The Organoid Company, and Lab-Grown Leather Ltd. have created a ground-breaking solution in their search for an environmentally benign substitute for leather.
Although it is referred to as "leather," as would be the case with a cow's hide, T-Rex leather is made without the use of real skin or flesh from a living creature. Rather, T-Rex DNA extracted from preserved collagen is used to start the procedure. Animals' skin, tendons, bones, and cartilage are all structurally supported by this protein, which is widely distributed. The Organoid Company's synthetic DNA models enable the team to construct cells. It is then incorporated into Elemental-X, a bio-based substance made of Lab-Grown Leather that is more real by not using any additives. Like the natural source species for conventional leather, the scientists let these cells freely form a structure on their own.
However, why dinosaurs? The crew begins by highlighting their resilience to harsh environments, a reference to the challenges that humanity will face in the ensuing decades due to climate change. Along with being high-quality, long-lasting, and repairable like regular leather, the team also aims to pave the way for a future in which premium materials are supplied ethically and sustainably. It will also be impossible to copy because of its distinctive design approach.
“This project is a remarkable example of how we can harness cutting-edge genome and protein engineering to create entirely new materials,” says Thomas Mitchell, CEO of The Organoid Company. “By reconstructing and optimising ancient protein sequences, we can design T-Rex leather, a biomaterial inspired by prehistoric biology, and clone it into a custom-engineered cell line.”
The first-ever example type of leather produced from a prehistoric, extinct species will be the outcome of their efforts. The first commercial product is expected to arrive before the year is out, and the company intends to utilize it initially on accessories like handbags. They intend to apply it to other industries, like the automobile sector, once they get it perfected.
The global chief creative officer, Innovation & CCO EMEA at VML, Bas Korsten, continues, "With T-Rex leather, we're harnessing the biology of the past to produce the luxury materials of the future." "We need to productize our creativity at this time in the history of our industry."
