A “T. rex leather” bag? Scientists say they made one

Scientists and designers have introduced a handbag made from laboratory-grown material linked to Tyrannosaurus rex collagen, in a project aimed at showcasing the potential of bioengineered leather.

The material was developed using protein fragments identified in dinosaur fossils, which were used to guide the production of collagen in lab-grown cells. This collagen was then processed into a leather-like material and crafted into a teal-colored handbag.

The bag is currently on display at a museum in Amsterdam, where it is presented as a concept piece highlighting advances in sustainable materials and biotechnology.

It is expected to be auctioned, with reports suggesting a starting price exceeding $500,000.

However, the project has drawn skepticism from some scientists. Experts note that collagen found in dinosaur fossils exists only in highly degraded fragments and cannot be used to reconstruct actual dinosaur skin.

They also point out that the material relies on modern biological systems to produce usable collagen, meaning it is not derived directly from dinosaur tissue in a traditional sense.