New method reveals similarities between dinosaurs and birds. Paleontologists at University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland have discovered X-ray evidence of proteins in fossil feathers that sheds new light on feather evolution. Previous studies suggested that ancient feathers had a different com
Isolated fossil feather from the Green River Formation . Specimen held in the Yale University Peabody Museum of Natural History. Scale bar indicates 100 mm. Credit: Dr. Tiffany SlaterPaleontologists at University College Cork in Ireland have discovered X-ray evidence of proteins in fossil feathers that sheds new light on feather evolution.
Dr. Tiffany Slater pictured at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at University College Cork. Credit: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision “Modern bird feathers are rich in beta-proteins that help strengthen feathers for flight,” Dr. Slater says. “Previous tests on dinosaur feathers, though, found mostly alpha-proteins. Our experiments can now explain this weird chemistry as the result of protein degradation during the fossilization process. So although some fossil feathers do preserve traces of the original beta-proteins, other fossil feathers are damaged and tell us a false narrative about feather evolution.”
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