Scientists at the University of Liverpool have made a groundbreaking discovery that challenges the long-held assumption that fossils completely erase original organic molecules. The research, published in Analytical Chemistry, found vestiges of original organic compounds in ancient remains, including dinosaur bones.
A 50-pound hip bone from an Edmontosaurus, excavated from South Dakota’s Hell Creek Formation, was analyzed using advanced mass spectrometry and protein sequencing techniques. The results showed that collagen remnants were present in the fossil, contradicting the idea that any organic material found in fossils is modern contamination.
This discovery has significant implications for paleontology and molecular biology. It suggests that not only can collagen survive fossilization but also remain detectable if the fossil is of exceptional quality. This could lead to a new understanding of dinosaur biology and potentially reveal hidden records of their physiology, including growth rates and metabolic traits.
The findings also raise questions about how proteins like collagen have managed to persist in fossils for millions of years. The research team used cross-polarized light microscopy images that were archived for decades, revealing intact patches of bone collagen that could be analyzed with modern techniques.
This breakthrough has major implications for refining dinosaur phylogenies by comparing molecular signatures and uncovering biochemical pathways that enabled the preservation of organic compounds over millions of years. Experts believe that this discovery will open new avenues for research into dinosaur evolutionary pathways and relationships.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/collagen-discovered-in-70-million-year-old-dinosaur-fossil