Two scientists at the Tissue Culture & Art Project have grown a semi-living jacket from human and mouse cells in an attempt to learn how to create ‘victimless’ leathers. The jacket is currently mouse-sized—only about 2-inch high—but they hope that if their technique holds, future attempts will be able to grow human-sized clothing. The material starts as a biodegradable polymer (used as a temporary frame), is coated with mouse cells from the 3T3 line for use as connective tissue, then coated wtih a top later of human bone cells to provide a firmer, more protective shell. Meat hats here we come (See Also: Lotions, Baskets). (Thanks, Matt!)
Jacket Grows From Living Tissue [Wired]
