In a study published in January, researchers confirmed the preservation of original organic molecules in Mesozoic dinosaur fossils, challenging long-held beliefs in paleontology. The study is titled "Evidence for Endogenous Collagen in Edmontosaurus Fossil Bone."
Conducted by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Liverpool, the study revealed strong evidence that Mesozoic fossils, including those from dinosaur bones and teeth, can still preserve their original organic materials. This finding refutes the hypothesis that any organics found in fossils must result from contamination.
The fossil at the center of the discovery is a well-preserved sacrum of an Edmontosaurus, a duck-billed dinosaur. Weighing 22 kilograms, the fossil was unearthed from the Late Cretaceous strata of the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota, a site renowned for its richness in dinosaur fossils. This formation was deposited by streams on a coastal plain in a subtropical climate.
For many years, scientists believed that fossils no longer contained any original organic molecules. The process of mineralization was thought to replace organic materials entirely with minerals. Long periods of burial, combined with high pressures and temperatures, were believed to completely degrade organic molecules in fossils. However, the study challenges that idea, suggesting that some organic molecules can survive fossilization.
The research team subjected the fossil hip to analytical techniques, including mass spectrometry. They detected and quantified the amino acid hydroxyproline, which, in bones, is found only in collagen. This finding confirms the presence of decayed collagen within the fossil specimen.
Collagen is a structural protein that forms the primary building block of bones, ligaments, muscles, skin, tendons, and other connective tissues. The identification of preserved collagen remnants in the fossil provides new insights into the biology of dinosaurs and potentially reveals connections between species that remain unknown. This discovery suggests some organic materials can survive fossilization.
"This research shows beyond doubt organic biomolecules—such as proteins like collagen—appear to be present in some fossils," said Professor Steve Taylor from the University of Liverpool, according to Phys.org. "Lastly, the findings inform the intriguing mystery of how these proteins have managed to persist in fossils for so long," he added.
The study not only resolves a long-standing scientific debate but also opens new perspectives for the study of ancient life, paving the way for future research. Understanding the mechanisms of preservation could have applications in several scientific fields, including paleontology and evolutionary biology.
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 identified fragments of collagen alpha-1, the main form of collagen in bone tissue. These techniques have confirmed the presence of decayed collagen.
"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," said Taylor.
The discovery challenges previous notions and opens up new possibilities for research in paleontology. It encourages scientists to revisit old fossil collections, which may contain intact collagen. The study raises questions about what conditions are necessary for the preservation of proteins like collagen in fossils, which could lead to a deeper understanding of dinosaur evolution and relationships.
Further biochemical studies on dinosaurs and other extinct species could establish new evolutionary links by revealing the presence of collagen and other organic components. This could lead to new insights into the relationships between different dinosaur species and their environments.
Edmontosaurus, the subject of this study, is thought to have been one of the last non-avian dinosaurs to live, alongside recognizable names such as Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus. This large herbivore belonged to the hadrosaurid family, also known as duck-billed dinosaurs.
The confirmation of original organic molecules in Mesozoic dinosaur fossils marks an advancement in paleontology. The study challenges long-held beliefs about fossilization processes and opens new avenues for research into ancient life. As Taylor emphasized, understanding how these proteins have persisted for so long informs the mystery of protein survival in fossils, providing possibilities for future discoveries.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.