Discovery of Organic Molecules in 66-Million-Year-Old Dinosaur Bones Shakes Up Paleontology – The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries Channel
Scientists have just made a stunning discovery inside a 66-million-year-old dinosaur bone—something that wasn’t supposed to survive for millions of years. Could this breakthrough rewrite what we know about fossilization and prehistoric life?Paleontologists have long assumed that fossilization destroys all organic molecules in ancient remains. However, a groundbreaking study by researchers at the University of Liverpool has found traces of collagen—a key structural protein—in a 66-million-year-old dinosaur bone. The study focused on a well-preserved hip bone from an Edmontosaurus, a duck-billed dinosaur that lived during the Cretaceous period. The fossil, weighing approximately 50 pounds (23 kilograms), was excavated from the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota and is now part of the University of Liverpool’s collections.Using advanced mass spectrometry and protein sequencing, scientists detected remnants of collagen in the bone. This finding contradicts the long-held belief that any organic material found in fossils must be modern contamination. According to Professor Steve Taylor, chair of the Mass Spectrometry Research Group at the University of Liverpool:“This research shows beyond doubt that organic biomolecules, such as proteins like collagen, appear to be present in some fossils.” The presence of collagen in a fossil this old suggests that certain conditions may allow organic molecules to survive far longer than previously believed.Collagen is the most abundant protein in bones, providing structure, flexibility, and strength. Without it, bones would be brittle and more prone to breaking under pressure. In modern animals, collagen plays a critical role in bone integrity—a fact that makes its discovery in dinosaur remains particularly significant.Normally, collagen breaks down over time, turning into gelatin when exposed to heat and moisture. This is why slow-cooked bone-in meats tend to be tender—the collagen melts into the meat. Given how rapidly it decomposes in typical conditions, finding traces of collagen in a 66-million-year-old fossil is extraordinary.The research team used high-precision techniques to confirm the presence of ancient collagen in the dinosaur bone. Protein sequencing helped identify specific molecular fragments, while tandem mass spectrometry provided high-resolution data that ruled out contamination. Imaging techniques revealed intact bone structures, suggesting that organic remnants had been preserved. The analysis pinpointed collagen alpha-1 fragments, a fundamental protein form in bone.Further confirmation came from the Center for Proteome Research at the University of Liverpool and UCLA, where advanced mass spectrometry validated the findings.“These images may reveal intact patches of bone collagen, potentially offering a ready-made trove of fossil candidates for further protein analysis,” explained Taylor. The ability to detect ancient proteins within fossils offers exciting new research avenues. This discovery could prompt re-examinations of museum collections, where fossils previously dismissed as fully mineralized may still contain traces of original organic material.According to Professor Taylor, archived cross-polarized light microscopy images could reveal additional samples with intact patches of bone collagen. Researchers may now reanalyze historical fossil collections using modern techniques, potentially uncovering a hidden record of dinosaur physiology and evolutionary history.This has literally been known for 20 years !! You can see blood cells and even nerves and slices of these bones.What if we’ve been wrong all along in regards to carbon dating, and the younger dryas wiped out the dinosaurs, while the floods deposited the various layers of sediment?Comment Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
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