Scientists are growing T. rex leather in a lab. It could be used to make purses.
The next time you go shopping for a new purse, your choices could go beyond traditional materials such as leather, nylon, cotton and polyester to include … Tyrannosaurus rex skin?
Yes, the remnants of the prehistoric predator are being used to create synthetic T. rex leather, which can be turned into accessories including purses. That's the plan for a trio of companies – The Organoid Company, Lab-Grown Leather Ltd., and VML – working on "a high-quality alternative to traditional leather that's cruelty-free and eco-friendly," said the collaborators in an April 25 news release.
The goal of a "luxury fashion item," hitting later this year, would be the first example of leather developed from an extinct species, the companies said.
"With T-Rex leather we're harnessing the biology of the past to create the luxury materials of the future," said Bas Korsten, global chief creative officer, Innovation & CCO EMEA at VML, the agency behind the 2024 Super Bowl "Mayo Cat" campaign and 2023's Mammoth Meatball, made of lab-grown meat.
Cosmos 482: Here's when the Soviet-era spacecraft may return to Earth
The team at The Organoid Company, a Netherlands-based biotech, will use fragments of T-Rex collagen protein recovered from fossils to recreate the prehistoric protein and engineer the new DNA into specialized cells for leather production. Another biotech company, the U.K.-based Lab-Grown Leather Ltd., will then use those specialized cells to produce skin, made with the T-Rex collagen protein, which is then tanned to form T-Rex leather.
"This project is a remarkable example of how we can harness cutting-edge genome and protein engineering to create entirely new materials," said The Organoid Company CEO Thomas Mitchell.
T. Rex leather could serve as a more environmentally friendly option to traditional leather and also eliminate "animal cruelty concerns," the companies said.
But some detractors consider the project misleading. University of Maryland vertebrate paleontologist Thomas Holtz, Jr. pointed out to Live Science, a science news site, how the lab-created skin won't be authentic because there's no actual T. rex skin or DNA to serve as a basis. "What this company is doing seems to be fantasy," he said.
Calling the announcement a "gimmick," Tom Ellis, professor of synthetic genome engineering at Imperial College London, told NBC News, 'I doubt that our knowledge of dinosaur evolution is good enough to be able to design a collagen gene specifically from T. rex."
But researchers have found collagen in an 80-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil and that can be used as a template, they say.
The Organoid Company is creating a T-Rex protein by using fragments of the T-Rex collagen protein from fossils, the companies said in a statement to USA TODAY.
"An important distinction is that (the companies) are starting with the language of proteins, amino acids, rather than the DNA itself," according to the statement. "This encodes what the 3D structure looks like and from this they can then recreate or 'molecularly resurrect' the DNA which is put into special cell lines for leather production."
The result of this reconstruction of ancient protein sequences is T. Rex leather, which is structurally identical to T. rex skin. "A biomaterial inspired by prehistoric biology," Mitchell said.
Eventually, T. rex leather could be used beyond handbags and clutches to cover chairs and vehicle seats. "The production of T-Rex leather demonstrates VML's commitment to pioneering new grounds and shaping the future of our industry," Korsten said.
Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY's Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
a day ago
- Axios
Exclusive: Disney, AT&T gives students first look at new Pixar film
Two hundred students in nine U.S. cities were invited to local theaters to preview Pixar's newest film, "Elio." State of play: The young people saw the film as part of an AT&T initiative on Connected Learning Centers (CLCs), which partner with local nonprofits to offer free WiFi and tutoring resources. The telecommunications company has opened 65 CLCs since 2021 and says it will have at least 100 open by the end of 2027. Driving the news: CLC participants in Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Orlando and the Bay Area saw an "Elio" screening on Tuesday. Pixar's latest film, in theaters now, follows a young, alien-obsessed space fanatic who is beamed up to another universe and mistaken for Earth's leader. The voice cast includes Zoe Saldaña, Brad Garrett, Jameela Jamil and Shirley Henderson.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
‘Land Of The Lost' Series Reboot In Works At Netflix From Legendary Television
EXCLUSIVE: Netflix is looking to remake another classic TV series. The streamer has closed a deal with Legendary Television for Land of the Lost, a reboot of Sid and Marty Krofft's 1974 sci-fi adventure show, Deadline has learned. Sid and Marty Krofft as well as Marty's daughter Deanna Krofft Pope, who is COO at their company, will produce the project, which is in very early stages, sources said. Search is underway for a writer. Reps for Netflix and Legendary TV declined comment. More from Deadline Spencer Milligan Dies: 'Land Of The Lost' Star Was 86 2025 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming Netflix Strikes "New Kind Of Partnership" To Carry TF1 Stations In France Land of the Lost centers on a father, Rick, and his two children who accidentally go through a portal and find themselves trapped in a world inhabited by dinosaurs, including a Tyrannosaurus rex they nickname Grumpy; primate-like people named Pakuni, one of whom, Cha-Ka, they befriend; and reptilian humanoids called Sleestak. Land of the Lost originated as a children's series which aired on NBC Saturday mornings for three seasons from 1974 to 1976, with CBS giving it a summer run in 1985 and 1987. In it, Rick was played by Spencer Milligan, with Wesley Eure and Kathy Coleman as his kids, Will and Holly, respectively. Stop-motion animation was used for some of the creatures. Despite its relatively short run, Land of the Lost achieved cult status, keeping the title relevant. That led to a 1991 series remake, which aired for two seasons on ABC, and a 2009 feature film starring Will Ferrell. Sid and Marty Krofft produced both. While it does not have the extensive library traditional TV studios do, Netflix has taken on a few classic series titles. The streamer is currently filming a new Little House On the Prairie and previously rebooted Lost In Space and One Day At a Time. Legendary Television's current slate includes Dune: Prophecy at HBO, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters at Apple TV+ and the animated Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft at Netflix as well as Tomb Raider and Pacific Rim live-action series and an adaptation of Girls and Their Horses with Nicole Kidman — all in development at Amazon. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Two NASA employees cited for their civic service, 'spirit of exploration'
June 17 (UPI) -- Two NASA employees are being cited for their civic work in the nation's space industry. The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, also known as the Sammies, recognize outstanding federal employees addressing many of the country's greatest challenges. Rich Burns from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and John Blevins of Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., were chosen out of 350 nominees and are a part of the 23 individuals and teams to earn this achievement. "Rich and John exemplify the spirit of exploration and service that defines NASA and our nation's civil servants," said acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro. "Their leadership, ingenuity and dedication have not only advanced America's space program but also inspired the next generation of innovators. We are proud to see their achievements recognized among the very best of federal service." Burns worked as a project manager of Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security - Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx). This mission started on Sept. 18, 2016, with a goal of retreiving a sample of an asteroid. "It's humbling to accept an award based on the achievements of the amazingly talented, dedicated, and innovative OSIRIS-REx team," Burns said. "I consider myself privileged to be counted among a team of true explorers who let no obstacle stand in the way of discovery." Blevins was the chief engineer of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. He led the team as part of Artemis l, first test flight on Nov. 16, 2022. He's currently leading the engineering team of Artemis II as that project prepares for the first crewed lunar mission. "This is a reflection on the hard work and dedication of the entire Artemis Team," Blevins said. "I am working with an incredibly competent, dedicated team agency-wide that goes above and beyond to promote the space exploration goals of our nation. I am honored to accept the award on their behalf." A ceremony will be held in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday and a live-stream on the Sammies website.
