Extraction of Collagen from 80-Million-Year-Old Brachylophosaurus Fossil Leaves Scientists Astounded

A team of paleontologists, led by researchers from North Carolina State University, has made an exciting discovery in the field of dinosaur research. They have successfully isolated collagen peptides from the fossilized femur of a Brachylophosaurus canadensis, a type of duck-billed dinosaur that lived around 80 million years ago in what is now Montana. Collagen is a type of protein, and peptides are the building blocks of proteins.

This breakthrough allows scientists to study the evolutionary relationships between dinosaurs and modern animals. It also opens up the opportunity to explore other questions, such as why collagen protein is able to preserve over such a long period of time.

The team, led by Professor Mary Schweitzer, aimed to confirm previous findings of original dinosaur collagen from a Brachylophosaurus canadensis specimen. They used updated extraction methods, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics analyses to study the collagen peptides found in the femur bone.

They were able to identify eight peptide sequences of collagen I, with two of them being identical to peptides discovered in 2009. The sequences showed similarities between the collagen I in the dinosaur and collagen I in both crocodylians (a type of reptile) and birds. This is consistent with the expected results for a hadrosaur, based on previous skeletal studies.

The researchers also conducted phylogenetic analyses, which placed the recovered sequences within the basal archosauria group. When only the new sequences were considered, the dinosaur was grouped more closely with crocodylians. However, when all sequences (including those from 2009) were analyzed, the dinosaur was placed closer to basal birds.

This discovery supports the idea that the collagen peptides are of an endogenous origin, meaning they are original to the specimen. The researchers are confident that their results are not due to contamination and are excited about the potential for further studies using this scientific foundation.

Dr. Elena Schroeter, lead author of the study, noted that they were able to replicate part of the 2009 results with improved methods and technology. This allowed them to achieve their findings with a smaller sample and in a shorter period of time.

The team’s ultimate goal is to provide a solid scientific basis for other researchers to build upon and ask larger questions about the fossil record. The successful preservation of these molecules opens up new avenues of research and exploration, beyond just studying the characteristics of dinosaurs. This breakthrough could have far-reaching implications for various scientific disciplines.

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