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Nowadays, more than 3,700 dyes can possibly be found, and of course, the new Glen Research has been providing a wide range of reagents for synthesis, modification, labeling. Hence, the whole process has become easier, and availability has increased.<br>
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Synthetic Biology's Sustainable Fabrics and Dyes As we all know, the fashion industry is responsible for 20 percent of global carbon emissions, and it is eventually more than sea and air transport combined. However, the technology and fashion industry have been droning pretty lately about the high-tech fabrics obtained from biomaterials and genetically engineered microorganisms. Furthermore, we would like to get into a detailed discussion about this.
Dyes are made out of microorganisms Since the past days, textile colors were pretty hard to find, which has been a significant source of revenue in local economics. However, the example of crimson and indigo has an exciting story to tell. You may not know, but DNA synthesizer is not directly but has a lot to do with the revenue-boosting of this fashion industry. Crimson is mainly produced in Mediterranean countries and sold around Europe. On the other hand, indigo is produced in Peru, but it is found in China and worldwide. The true revolution in the textile industry arrived in 1856. William Perkin has accidentally synthesized the mauve color in his lab, and that’s where it all started, as per the source. Nowadays, more than 3,700 dyes can possibly be found, and of course, the new Glen Research has been providing a wide range of reagents for
synthesis, modification, labeling. Hence, the whole process has become easier, and availability has increased. There is a problem too; the dye production, especially the dyeing of textile, has toxic byproducts, uses harsh conditions, and consumes a lot of water and energy. So, a paradigm shift is required to make these processes greener, and hopefully, synthetic biology will have a proper solution. The main source of dyeing pigments was insects and plants, and that’s why it was costly. The limited supply often became another reason behind the price tag. However, synthetic biology allows the transfer of metabolic pathways as well as protein production from one organism to another. So, it is very much possible to engineer easily grown yeasts and bacteria in terms of producing colorants. What About New Materials? As we highlighted, synthetic biology solves the problems and deals with all obstructions in a better way. Dyeing and pigments are one part of the problem. Plant fibers such as cotton are mostly used for clothes that have a non-negligible carbon footprint. Synthetic fibers derived from fossil fuels are primary contributors to the microplastic problem. It is essential to find easy-to-handle material, durable, biodegradable, and environment-friendly. Focusing on cutting off the cost has become necessary to meet everyone’s expectations, and there is synthetic biology will make a notable difference.
Eventually, the sustainability problem is pressing, and the technology is there too, so why can not we find biotech clothes in the local retailer? We think the cost is playing a major role in this. Synthetic biology is trying to make it less expensive, and the cost will be decreased soon. Also, biotech clothing is not at all waste- free or carbon-neutral, but the consumption will be less. To Know More Visit: www.txbio.co
