Posted on 05/09/2015 9:34:00 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
The Iceman as he has come to be known, (also known as Ötzi) has been the object of intense scrutiny ever since being found embedded in an Alpine glacier back in 1991 -- he is believed to have died approximately 5,300 years ago... a [moving] nano-sized probe... allows for capturing 3D imagery -- it revealed the clear doughnut shape of red blood cells. To confirm that the images they were seeing represented real red blood cells, the team shone a laser on the same material and read the wavelengths that were reflected back -- that revealed that the molecular makeup of the material matched that of red blood cells -- a finding that marks the oldest known preserved instance of a red blood cell.
Scientists believe the Iceman was approximately 46 years old when he died -- other research has led to the discovery that he suffered from a variety of illnesses and injuries and his skin was decorated with many tattoos, most of which are believed to have been applied as a means of alleviating joint pain, possibly due to arthritis or inflammation caused by Lyme Disease.
Also, by using Raman spectroscopy, the researchers found traces of fibrin, a clotting agent the body makes immediately after an injury occurs, which suggests very strongly that the Iceman died shortly after he was wounded -- it is generally absorbed shortly after an injury occurs as other agents take over. Because it was still present near the Iceman's wound suggests he died shortly after it was inflicted, likely from a blow to the head.
(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...
AFM images of red blood cells (RBCs). (a,b) Single RBCs from recent human tissue. (c) An assembly of RBCs. (d,e) Single corpuscles found in Iceman sample A and sample B are shown. An assembly of several randomly distributed corpuscles, similar to those found within the recent sample (c), are displayed in image (f). The imaged corpuscles (d–f) feature the characteristic discoid and concave surface of RBCs. Credit: Journal of the Royal Society Interface, DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2012.0174
Preservation of 5300 year old red blood cells in the Iceman, Journal of the Royal Society Interface, DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2012.0174 -- Abstract -- Changes in elasticity and structures of red blood cells (RBCs) are important indicators of disease, and this makes them interesting for medical studies. In forensics, blood analyses represent a crucial part of crime scene investigations. For these reasons, the recovery and analysis of blood cells from ancient tissues is of major interest. In this study, we show that RBCs were preserved in Iceman tissue samples for more than 5000 years. The morphological and molecular composition of the blood corpuscle is verified by atomic force microscope and Raman spectroscopy measurements. The cell size and shape approximated those of healthy, dried, recent RBCs. Raman spectra of the ancient corpuscle revealed bands that are characteristic of haemoglobin. Additional vibrational modes typical for other proteinaceous fragments, possibly fibrin, suggested the formation of a blood clot. The band intensities, however, were approximately an order of magnitude weaker than those of recent RBCs. This fact points to a decrease in the RBC-specific metalloprotein haemoglobin and, thus, to a degradation of the cells. Together, the results show the preservation of RBCs in the 5000 year old mummy tissue and give the first insights into their degradation.
Boy, for a dead guy over five thousand years old he sure is giving up the info.
yeah, I Waa afraid to ask? Haven’t humans always had red blood cells? lol.
LOL!
Sometimes I feel some posts are traps to get the not so sharp ones like me out in the open lol.
In Oetzi’s case, the overall study showed that his death happened quickly. Regarding the red cells:
[snip] The band intensities, however, were approximately an order of magnitude weaker than those of recent RBCs. This fact points to a decrease in the RBC-specific metalloprotein haemoglobin and, thus, to a degradation of the cells. Together, the results show the preservation of RBCs in the 5000 year old mummy tissue and give the first insights into their degradation. [/snip]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3288165/posts?page=2#2
That’ll teach him to get ambushed, fall into a crevasse, and get covered up by ice and snow, the bastard.
All kidding aside, it is interesting.
Some of my favorite strips were when the father tortured the kid’s mind lol
There was one where he told Calvin Kindergarten is where they eat kids, or something like that. And the mother got so mad.
That was a LONG time ago :)
I found the artifacts discovered with him to be fascinating but I am not clear about why I need to know they had red blood cells or why I need to know that he probably died quickly. The artifacts, the condition of his body etc. tell us about the nature of the trans Alpine commerce of the time as well as the progress of civilization.
red blood cells have been found in Egyptian Mummies that are nearly as old as the Iceman...its about one-upmanship and bragging rights
And it all happened the one time he left home without his penis.
Witnesses maintain he had already surrendered when he was shot in the back by an Alpine Patrol Officer. Oetzi was carrying flint and tinder, police claim. He was also heavily armed. Demonstrations were scheduled, but were cancelled when a blizzard blew in and temperatures dropped. Organpzers claim that neolithic young men are disproportionally profiled by Alpine Cops and that there are no Neolithic Jobs in their communities. Their settlements are often red-lined by lenders and have few business to burn down.
The dude died.
But you figure with a name like Otzi, hey, what is there to live for anyway?
Global Warming could have saved him.
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