Bones Of Contention: Dinosaur Cells Survived Millions Of Years Trapped In Bone

Science 2.0 ^ | Mary Schwietzer

[JimSEA]

Twenty years ago Mary Schweitzer found herself the closest that anyone has ever been to a living dinosaur. As she examined a thin slice of a T. Rex bone fragment under a microscope, she realized she was looking at what appeared to be preserved red blood cells- cells which had no place in a 65 million year old fossil. It was the first time that anyone had found evidence that biological material could survive the passage of millions of years and still retain its molecular structure, challenging one of the central beliefs of paleontologists. Proving that what she was seeing had in fact once been dinosaur cells was a tall order, however, and one so outrageous at the time that it was met with considerable hostility from her peers. When Schweitzer first claimed to have found red blood cells in a T. Rex leg bone in 1993, her findings were dismissed by most scientists because it seemed improbable- not to mention downright impossible- that red blood cells could have survived in a 65 million year old bone. Schweitzer recieved her Ph.D. for her work on proving that the cells had originated from once-living dinosaur cells. The controversy was renewed in 2005 when Schweitzer reported finding collagen, a tough, elastic structural protein, in fossilized bones. Since then Schweitzer has found evidence of blood vessels, feather fibers, and osteocytes (specialized bone cells) associated with fossilized dinosaur bones.

[JimSEA]

Another chapter in a very contentious subject both within paleontology and biology and between science and some aspects of faith. It is long and a little geeky but worth a trip to the source and a leisurely read. Like that's likely to happen.

[JimSEA]

Sorry, here is the source article in full

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IBTEIOSTO

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IBTEIOSYO = In Before The Earth Is Only Six Thousand Years Old

[ScoochDude]

Perhaps the fossils are 6,500 years old, not 65 million?

[PAR35]

a 65 million year old fossil

Or, treating assumptions as facts. The global warming worshipers are just carrying on a long scientific tradition.

[null and void]

By five seconds...

[scripter]

Perhaps the fossils are 6,500 years old, not 65 million?

That's not possible because phyletic evolution or punctuated equilibria couldn't happen in such a short time.

[scripter]

That was 7 seconds!

[Don Corleone]

Perhaps the fossils are 6,500 years old, not 65 million?

"As ancient astronaut theorists believe".

[null and void]

*shrug* They’re both prime numbers...

[Magic Fingers]

“As ancient astronaut theorists believe”.

I always chuckle at that made-up job description. I guess they figure it implies legitimacy.

[bgill]

Bring back T-rex!

[kiltie65]

Disney Inc. could open a Jurassic Park???

[Lazamataz]

IBTEIOSYO = In Before The Earth Is Only Six Thousand Years Old

Five thousand seven hundred, you apostate.

[Lazamataz]

by: Mary Schwietzer

Twenty years ago Mary Schweitzer found herself the closest that anyone has ever been to a living dinosaur.

Lazamataz hates people who write about themselves in the third person.

[ETL]

My late mom bought me these same pics as postcards on one of our trips to the Museum of Natural History in New York City. Talking about the 1960s here! It was really nice coming across these images on the internet a year or so ago. Brought back some wonderful memories.

Interestingly, much of how the dinos are depicted here has turned out to be incorrect. ie, large sauropods in swamps, dino tails dragging, upright position of the T-Rex type carnivorous (Allosaurus in this case)...

[ETL]

Bring back T-Rex!

You sure?

[ETL]

Check out this fossilized shark tooth!

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

65 million year old bone

Yeah, sure.