Lab-grown donkey collagen could save species from extinction
Quick Look
- Scientists in Brazil are developing lab-grown donkey collagen to prevent the species' extinction.
- Professor Carla Molento leads the project, aiming for a pure, scalable product that retains the qualities of conventional collagen without contamination risks.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Scientists in Brazil are developing a lab-grown donkey collagen product to address the rapid decline of the species worldwide. The project aims to create a pure and scalable alternative to conventional donkey collagen.
Scientists in Brazil are working on a lab-grown donkey collagen that might save the animals from being wiped out worldwide.
Carla Molento, a professor of animal welfare at the Federal University of Parana and head of its Cellular Animal Science Laboratory, is spearheading the project.
The veterinarian said her team was working towards “a novel system ready for scale production” of donkey hide gelatin in a bid to curb the species’ rapid decline.
“We are hoping to offer a donkey collagen product which retains all the qualities of the conventional one, as it will be encoded by the same DNA,” she said.
“Except that we will be able to ensure its purity, as none of the contamination such as heavy metals and disease risks like pathogens exist in the new production system.”
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Successful scale production of lab-grown donkey collagen.
Possible · Medium term
Open Questions
- What is the timeline for scaling production?
- What are the specific qualities of the lab-grown collagen compared to conventional collagen?
- What is the current conservation status of donkeys worldwide?
- What are the economic implications of this new production system?
