All articles tagged with #feather evolution
Scientists discovered a 247-million-year-old Triassic reptile, Mirasaura, with a large, unique crest made of soft tissues containing pigment cells similar to feathers, challenging existing theories on the origins of feathers and hair in amniotes and suggesting these features may have evolved earlier than previously thought.
Paleontologists at University College Cork have discovered X-ray evidence of proteins in 125-million-year-old dinosaur feathers, revealing that the protein composition of modern-day feathers was also present in the feathers of dinosaurs and early birds. The research challenges previous studies suggesting that ancient feathers had a different composition and confirms that the chemistry of feathers originated much earlier than previously thought. The team developed a new method to detect traces of ancient feather proteins and found that feathers from the dinosaur Sinornithosaurus contained beta-proteins, similar to modern bird feathers. The study also sheds light on the fossilization process and the preservation of biomolecules in deep time.
A study conducted by scientists from University College Cork, Linyi University, and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source has revealed that the protein composition of dinosaur feathers is similar to that of modern birds, suggesting that the modern feather may have evolved much earlier than previously thought. By analyzing 125-million-year-old fossil feathers, the researchers found traces of beta-keratin, indicating that alpha-keratin was likely formed through degradation during the fossilization process. The study also highlights the need for a more holistic analysis of ancient fossils and their biomolecules, as well as the development of new tools to understand the chemical secrets of fossils.
Paleontologists at University College Cork have discovered X-ray evidence of proteins in fossil feathers, revealing that the protein composition of modern-day feathers was also present in the feathers of dinosaurs and early birds. The research confirms that the chemistry of feathers originated much earlier than previously thought and helps answer questions about the preservation of ancient biomolecules. The study provides new insights into feather evolution and the fossilization process.