New research led by the University of Liverpool has found evidence that some dinosaur fossils can still preserve traces of original organic molecules, according to ScienceDaily.
The study examined an exceptionally well preserved Edmontosaurus sacrum, or lower spine bone, that was excavated from Upper Cretaceous rocks in South Dakota’s Hell Creek Formation. Using protein sequencing and mass spectrometry, the team detected signs of collagen in the fossil.
Researchers from UCLA also helped confirm the findings by identifying hydroxyproline, an amino acid closely tied to collagen in bone. The University of Liverpool said additional analyses supported the presence of decayed collagen and fragments of collagen alpha-1.
The results add new evidence to a debate that has lasted for about 30 years over whether organic material in fossils is real or the result of contamination. Scientists involved in the study say the discovery could help identify more fossils for molecular analysis and may offer new clues about relationships among dinosaur species.
