Powerful X-rays generated at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have enabled researchers to gain new insights into the evolution of feathers. How closely related are dinosaurs to today's birds? A recent study delves into this question, investigating the evolution and alteration of proteins in din
, plus a 50-million-year-old feather from the U.S. They recently published their results in the journalTo detect the proteins in the ancient feathers, researchers placed the fossils in front of SSRL’s powerful X-rays, which revealed whether key components of beta-proteins were present. This helped the researchers determine if a sample’s beta-proteins were still in their “native” form or if they had altered over time – and how that alteration proceeds chemically, SSRL scientist Sam Webb said.
The analysis showed that while some fossil feathers contain lots of alpha-proteins, they were likely not there originally, but instead formed over time. They formed due to the high extreme heat that fossils experience. “The idea that original protein compositions may change over time is an often overlooked aspect of looking at biomarkers from deep time,” Webb said. “Comparing our X-ray spectroscopy results to the additional lab measurements of experimentally heated feather samples helped calibrate our findings.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Eyes Don’t Lie: Unlocking Long COVID Secrets Through Blood Vessels in the EyeA standardized eye examination might reveal in the future whether people are suffering from long Covid / post-Covid. A team of scientists was able to demonstrate a clear connection between the disease and certain changes to the blood vessels in the eye. Long after contracting COVID-19, between 1
Read more »
Unveiling the Hidden Web: the Top 10 Search Engines and Websites for Deeper Online ExplorationUnlocking the hidden web's secrets: 10 search engines, safety, ethics, and exploration tips.
Read more »
Unlocking the Brain’s Secrets: Where Does Conscious Experience Truly Reside?Recordings show prolonged activity in the visual cortex when looking at images, outlasting conscious awareness of image. More than a quarter of all stroke victims develop a bizarre disorder — they lose conscious awareness of half of all that their eyes perceive. For instance, after a stroke affe
Read more »
USD Index reaches new highs past the 106.00 hurdleThe greenback, in terms of the USD Index (DXY), adds to the ongoing rally and surpasses the 106.00 hurdle to print new 2023 peaks on turnaround Tuesda
Read more »