Lab-Grown T. rex Leather Handbag Heads to Paris Auction with €300,000-€500,000 Estimate
A handbag made from collagen derived from lab-grown Tyrannosaurus rex DNA is being auctioned by Hôtel Drouot in Paris on June 11, with an estimated price of €300,000 to €500,000. The project was led by Newcastle University tissue engineering professor Che Connon alongside researchers from VML, The Organoid Company, and Lab-Grown Leather Ltd., using DNA from fossils and advanced biotechnology. The sale represents a novel intersection of paleontology, synthetic biology, and luxury fashion, though some experts have questioned the feasibility of the project.
A Parisian auction house is selling what it claims to be the world's first handbag made from collagen derived from lab-grown Tyrannosaurus rex DNA, with bidding expected on June 11. The project involved extracting T. rex DNA from fossils, conducting phylogenetic analyses, and inserting the genetic material into specialized bio-leather cell lines to grow skin tissue that was then tanned into leather. The collaboration included tissue engineering researchers from Newcastle University, advertising agency VML, genomic engineering firm The Organoid Company, and Lab-Grown Leather Ltd. Professor Che Connon has defended the project's legitimacy against skeptics who have called it gimmicky and far-fetched, asserting that the underlying science is proven and feasible. The handbag is estimated to sell for between €300,000 and €500,000, positioning it as an exclusive luxury item, though significantly less expensive than some record-breaking designer handbags.
What's missing
The article does not provide independent verification of the scientific claims from peer-reviewed sources, regulatory approval status, or detailed explanation of how viable DNA was extracted and sequenced from 66-million-year-old fossils, which remains scientifically contentious. The specific identity of the fossil source and chain of custody are not disclosed. No statements from independent paleontologists or synthetic biology experts outside the project team are included to evaluate feasibility claims.
What different sources said
- New York PostRight
Bona fide T. rex leather purse is going up for auction — and it could fetch $500K
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