Researchers at the University of Liverpool made an amazing discovery when they studied some 66 million-year-old dinosaur fossils. They found organic molecules trapped in the bones, more specifically collagen. This is incredible because dinosaur fossils are generally found without any of their organic material present.
Replacing Organic Matter
When a dinosaur starts the process of becoming a fossil, everything but their bones rot away. Once the carcass is just skeletal remains, the perfect conditions have to be met to keep them preserved. Minerals in the ground will slowly replace all of the organic material that was present in the bone.
An Important Find
Paleontologists found the fossil at Hell Creek Formation, which is a well known fossil site. The fossil in question was a well-preserved Edmontosaurus bone from the late Cretaceous period. They then began studying the bone, and found the collagen.
Collagen
Collagen is an important protein that is found in connective tissue and bones. By finding it present such old remains has implications for how long organic matter can be preserved for and challenges previous knowledge in the scientific community.
Finding The Protein
The researchers found the protein by using scientific techniques like mass spectrometry and protein sequencing. Once they had analyzed the remains, they found an important amino acid specific to collagen – hydroxyproline. This confirmed the presence of collagen in the fossil.
Challenging Current Knowledge
The discovery and subsequent research are ground-breaking in their own right because of the implications for what is known about the degradation of biological materials. If organic matter was found within this fossil, then others could hold similar traces of life waiting to be discovered.
Further Research
The research won’t stop at the discovery of collagen. Researchers are trying to understand how it was present in such an old fossil. Right now, working theories are mineral entrapment – the genetic material could have been sandwiched between minerals and chemical stabilization. Once they better understand the how, then they can look for similar patterns in future fossils.
A Collaboration
With how important this find is, many different experts from different fields have elected to help in the study of this fossil, ensuring that there are no mistakes. With this study crossing multiple scientific fields, the quality of the research is guaranteed to be high.
Implications For Old Fossils
With the new findings, it opens the door for researchers to investigate previously discovered fossils that may have organic materials that went unnoticed. Using modern techniques, scientists could find out new things about fossils found many years before.
The Future
Researchers plan to aim their future research on trying to identify any other proteins and organic matter in dinosaur fossils. If any more proteins thought to be too old to be preserved are found, it could shape the way we understand life in the Mesozoic era.
A Potential Shift
Scientists finding collagen in a dinosaur fossil could represent a shift in the way paleontology is conducted. This discovery has challenged previous assumptions and encourages paleontologists to reevaluate what to look for in old and future fossils.
An Impact On Science
The discovery could have a broader impact on scientific fields outside of paleontology. If ancient proteins can be researched and better understand, there are implications for both the evolutionary biology and the biochemistry fields of science. We could end up understanding evolutionary processes from millions of years ago.
Research Continues
Currently, only time will tell what else can be researched and found within the Edmontosaurus bone. The research will continue, and the next discovery is always waiting to be uncovered in either currently existing or yet-to-be-found fossils.
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