T. rex researchers eviscerate 'misleading' dinosaur leather announcement
3 minute readPublished: Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 2:05 pm
T. Rex "Leather" Announcement Sparks Skepticism from Dinosaur Experts
A recent announcement promising luxury fashion accessories made from "T. rex leather" has been met with strong skepticism from dinosaur experts. A partnership of companies, including creative agency VML and biotechnology firms Lab-Grown Leather Ltd and The Organoid Company, plans to create this material using lab-grown cells based on fossilized T. rex collagen. The companies are touting the product as an eco-friendly and cruelty-free alternative to traditional leather.
However, paleontologists are raising serious concerns. They emphasize that true T. rex leather would require DNA from the extinct predator, which is impossible to obtain. Furthermore, the collagen, a protein found in bone, is not the same as skin, which is the source of leather. Experts like Thomas Holtz, Jr., a vertebrate paleontologist, have labeled the claims as "misleading," pointing out the lack of preserved T. rex DNA and the limited understanding of its skin structure.
While the companies aim to use the collagen found in fossilized bones, experts are also skeptical about this approach. They note that the fossilized collagen is highly fragmented, making it difficult to accurately reconstruct a T. rex-specific molecule. They also point out that collagen is a generic molecule across animals, making it unlikely to have unique species-specific sequences.
Despite the scientific concerns, the partnership emphasizes the ethical and sustainable aspects of lab-grown leather, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of traditional leather production. While acknowledging the ethical value of lab-grown leather, experts suggest focusing on readily available sources like cows and crocodiles rather than attempting to resurrect a prehistoric material.
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