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Paleontology Shaken: Organic Molecules Found in 66-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Bones
Scitech Daily ^ | February 11, 2025 | University of Liverpool

Posted on 02/13/2025 12:05:10 PM PST by Red Badger

Close up of the hip bone of an Edmontosaurus. Credit: University of Liverpool

Liverpool researchers’ discovery of collagen in fossilized bones could provide new insights into dinosaurs.

For years, scientists widely believed that the fossilization process destroyed all original organic molecules, leaving fossils devoid of their original biological material.

However, a groundbreaking study led by the University of Liverpool has provided strong evidence that Mesozoic fossils, including dinosaur bones and teeth, still contain preserved organic materials.

Using advanced mass spectrometry and other analytical techniques, researchers detected remnants of collagen in the hip bone of an Edmontosaurus, a duck-billed dinosaur. This discovery helps settle a long-standing debate that has persisted for over 30 years.

The study, published in the journal Analytical Chemistry, used several techniques, including protein sequencing, to detect and characterize bone collagen in the 22-kilogram fossil. The fossil is an exceptionally well-preserved Edmontosaurus sacrum excavated from Upper Cretaceous strata of the South Dakota Hell Creek Formation. It is part of the University of Liverpool’s collections and offers a unique opportunity for cutting-edge analyses.

The fossil is an exceptionally well preserved Edmontosaurus sacrum. Credit: University of Liverpool Key Findings and implications

Professor Steve Taylor, chair of the Mass Spectrometry Research Group at the University of Liverpool’s Department of Electrical Engineering & Electronics, said:

“This research shows beyond doubt that organic biomolecules, such as proteins like collagen, appear to be present in some fossils.

“Our results have far-reaching implications. Firstly, it refutes the hypothesis that any organics found in fossils must result from contamination.

“Secondly, it suggests that cross-polarized light microscopy images of fossil bones, collected for a century, should be revisited. These images may reveal intact patches of bone collagen, potentially offering a ready-made trove of fossil candidates for further protein analysis. This could unlock new insights into dinosaurs– for example revealing connections between dinosaur species that remain unknown.

“Lastly, the findings inform the intriguing mystery of how these proteins have managed to persist in fossils for so long.”

Hip bone of an Edmontosaurus. Credit: University of Liverpool

The research not only appears to resolve a long-standing scientific debate but also opens further avenues for studying ancient life, offering a glimpse into the biochemical preservation of fossils of extinct creatures.

Collaboration across disciplines

The study brought together experts from multiple disciplines:

Researchers from UCLA contributed to the study, using tandem mass spectrometry to detect and quantify—for the first time—the amino acid hydroxyproline, which is specific to collagen when found in bone, thus confirming the presence of decayed collagen.

Researchers from the University of Liverpool’s Mass Spectrometry Research Group conducted protein sequencing and mass spectrometry tests.

Specialists from the University’s Materials Innovation Factory carried out additional analyses to confirm the results.

The Centre for Proteome Research at the University of Liverpool identified fragments of collagen alpha-1, the main form of collagen in bone tissue.

Reference:

“Evidence for Endogenous Collagen in Edmontosaurus Fossil Bone”

by Lucien Tuinstra, Brian Thomas, Steven Robinson, Krzysztof Pawlak, Gazmend Elezi, Kym Francis Faull and Stephen Taylor, 17 January 2025, Analytical Chemistry.

DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03115


TOPICS: History; Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: aminoacid; collagen; cretaceous; dinosaur; dinosaurs; edmontosaurus; fossil; godsgravesglyphs; hellcreekformation; maryschweitzer; mesozoic; organic; organicmaterial; paleontology; southdakota
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1 posted on 02/13/2025 12:05:10 PM PST by Red Badger
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To: SunkenCiv

PinGGG!.......................


2 posted on 02/13/2025 12:05:36 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

The question isn’t “ can we clone a dinosaur “ it’s “should we “


3 posted on 02/13/2025 12:07:16 PM PST by Ikeon ( Why don't they, do what they say? Say what they mean? One thing leads to another. )
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To: Red Badger

Edmontosaurus

4 posted on 02/13/2025 12:08:04 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

They’re not 66 million years old.

Maybe 66 hundred.


5 posted on 02/13/2025 12:08:04 PM PST by fishtank (The denial of original sin is the root of liberalism.)
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To: Red Badger

The science is settled though, right?


6 posted on 02/13/2025 12:08:17 PM PST by NohSpinZone (First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers)
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To: Red Badger

The question isn’t “ can we clone a dinosaur “ it’s “should we “


7 posted on 02/13/2025 12:10:20 PM PST by Ikeon ( Why don't they, do what they say? Say what they mean? One thing leads to another. )
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To: fishtank

You’re kidding, right? :)

66 hundred is 6,600 years ago, no?

Maybe you misunderstood something :)


8 posted on 02/13/2025 12:11:13 PM PST by dp0622 (Tried a coup, a fake tax story, tramp slander, Russia nonsense, impeachment and a virus. They lost.)
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To: Red Badger

Old ex-hippie, his white hair in a bun, spilling a little arugula-okra salad on his tie dyed shirt and threadbare jeans (In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida heard on a CD player):

“See, Brenda, we knew organic was the way to go.”


9 posted on 02/13/2025 12:12:05 PM PST by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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To: Red Badger
When you scan articles too quickly, your brain plays tricks on you. For example, "The fossil is an exceptionally well-preserved Edmontosaurus sacrum..."

We all know what's next...


10 posted on 02/13/2025 12:12:29 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (They were the FA-est of times, they were the FO-est of times.)
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To: dp0622

I believe in young earth creationism.


11 posted on 02/13/2025 12:12:40 PM PST by fishtank (The denial of original sin is the root of liberalism.)
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To: fishtank

This


12 posted on 02/13/2025 12:13:32 PM PST by HombreSecreto (The life of a repo man is always intense)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

ISWYDT!.....................


13 posted on 02/13/2025 12:13:50 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

In before the McConnell and Pelosi jokes…


14 posted on 02/13/2025 12:16:14 PM PST by rhinohunter (Free at last, free at least! Thank Almighty God, we're free at last!)
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To: Red Badger
Yeah, yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should.

Dr. Ian Malcolm

15 posted on 02/13/2025 12:17:29 PM PST by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
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To: dp0622

Soft tissue in dinosaur bones have been reported for several years now

https://creation.com/dinosaur-soft-tissue


16 posted on 02/13/2025 12:27:03 PM PST by fishtank (The denial of original sin is the root of liberalism.)
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To: Red Badger

17 posted on 02/13/2025 12:27:42 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: dp0622

because we should always follow the scientific consensus?


18 posted on 02/13/2025 12:30:14 PM PST by Stingray51 ( )
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To: Stingray51

You can’t sense the con all the time,

but the consensus must be followed all the time!

/sarcasm


19 posted on 02/13/2025 12:36:14 PM PST by fishtank (The denial of original sin is the root of liberalism.)
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To: Red Badger
"...researchers detected remnants of collagen..."

Who knew dinosaurs had lips?


20 posted on 02/13/2025 12:38:27 PM PST by PLMerite ("They say that we were Cold Warriors. Yes, and a bloody good show, too. 😁 " - Robert Conquest )
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