Fossils

[ysabetwordsmith]

Paleontology rocked by discovery of organic molecules in 66-million-year-old dinosaur bones

A stunning discovery inside dinosaur bones suggests traces of original proteins may have survived since the age of the dinosaurs.

Scientists have uncovered compelling evidence that dinosaur fossils may still contain traces of their original proteins, overturning a long-standing belief that fossilization destroys all organic material. In a remarkably well-preserved Edmontosaurus fossil from South Dakota, researchers detected remnants of collagen — the main protein found in bone — using advanced techniques including mass spectrometry and protein sequencing.


I suggest checking subfossils for useful information, particularly giant ground sloths and mammoths.

Comments

[siliconshaman]

Inevitably someone is going to make the Jurassic park comparison. Personally, I think we're going to find out all sorts of useful info by doing biochemical comparisons.

That said... the like of those mummified saber-tooth cubs might be well enough preserved to yield intact DNA.

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

... and also preserved remains of other extinct or highly endangered species. Humanity really needs to reconstruct some of what it wiped out, before it's too late. The ecosystem is missing so many pieces that it's pretty fragile now. :/ In particular, the giant level is missing everywhere but Africa and India now. Without the elephantids, giant ground sloths, etc. there is nothing left to stop forests from turning into one big thicket, which is not good for biodiversity.

Re: Yes ...

[siliconshaman]

There was an Elasmodon found virtually intact in the permafrost not so long ago.

That said, we should bloody well fix what we broke indeed.