Lab-Grown Leather?

[HellcatLeathers]

WTF?!!!! Really? Growing leather in a LAB? Thought this would be an interesting topic to discuss.....read the article and discuss!

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/lab-grown-leather-coming-to-a-mall-near-you/

[TexasJack]

WTF, indeed. First, why would anyone want to screw around with a useful material that has thousands of years of history?

What are the alternatives for getting rid of animal hides? Burning?? Burying? Stupid.

Finally, this: “By the end of the year, I think we’ll be able to produce a two centimeter by two centimeter sample of leather that’s made without killing an animal,” Really?!? Ooooh, that's impressive! Who's giving them money to waste on this project??

[HellfireJack]

They're just aiming at making items with the look and feel of leather to fill a niche market of people who like leather and don't like killing animals. Real leather will never be replaced.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

They are growing human skin in labs for burn victims, and even ears for cosmetic reasons, so why not leather? Imagine if they get it perfected. You could possibly get perfect hides in sizes, and weights that are impossible now. No stretchy belly parts, no wasted edges, just sheets of genetically perfect leather.Why wouldn't it be "real leather" it is grown from the same cells cows use to make their own hides from.

Posted a comment on the site, we'll see if it gets approved.

Edited September 26, 2012 by BIGGUNDOCTOR

[CitizenKate]

Nothing wrong with it, I guess. It'll be interesting to see how it compares with the real thing. But the author is in for a disappointment if she thinks it will spare many livestock that are raised "for leather", since we don't generally raise livestock for leather. Guess we'd all have to find another hobby/profession if the human population were herbivores.

Also ironic to note how there is getting to be so much on the market to substitute meat and leather products. Have you ever read the labels of what goes into a veggan meat substitute? The list of chemicals is kinda scary to me, yet this is considered by some a "healthier" diet, since the main ingredient is plant-based. How twisted is that?

They are growing human skin in labs for burn victims, and even ears for cosmetic reasons, so why not leather? Imagine if they get it perfected. You could possibly get perfect hides in sizes, and weights that are impossible now. No stretchy belly parts, no wasted edges, just sheets of genetically perfect leather.

Interesting thought. What you're referring to requires human DNA to produce. It's definitely not plan-based, but I suppose we could do the same thing with DNA samples collected from animals without harming them.

[Wishful]

IMHO: Most animals are killed for the meat with the skin as a by product that is put to go use as leather. I do not see how this will save any animals.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

My reply got posted which explained that leather is a byproduct of meat production.

Why is this lined out???

Edited September 26, 2012 by Art

[Art]

I unlined it for you. If you hit the S with a line through it and you have the text highlited, it will show line This.

Art

[George B]

After reading the article I read the author's little bio. I lived in Boulder for about 6 months and could not move fast enough. Great city with a lot of things going for it, but it is one of the most liberal places I have ever hung my hat. Probably why she was so excited about saving all those hamburgers on the hoof. Or, maybe it's more about all those cow-farts messing up the climate.

That being said, it would be nice to just go to the machine, punch in my requirements and bingo I have what I want.

Buck Rogers would be so proud!

Of course it may be too expensive for me to buy in this lifetime...guess I'll save a cow tonight and eat some pork instead.

Hey what about all those lil' pigs that need saving? How about some lab grown pigskin too.

[TwinOaks]

I don't think I'd do too well in a world with perfect hides with zero blemishes, no scars, no fat marks....no UNIQUE qualities....it'd get too boring.

Besides, where's all the <insert anagram/description of choice> people protesting for Naugas? Those little critters ARE harvested only for their skins.