A team of scientists, led by organic geochemist Kliti Grice from Curtin University in Perth, Australia, believe they may have found remnants of dinosaur blood in a 115-million-year-old fossil. The sample, which appears to be a collection of old bones, was sent to Grice for analysis due to its extraordinary preservation. Using a powerful microscope, Grice observed vascular canals where blood vessels would have run through the bone, and within these canals, structures resembling red blood cells.
To confirm the identity of these structures, Grice conducted an exhaustive chemical analysis, employing around 30 different analytical techniques. The results revealed evidence of a molecule called heme, a crucial component of hemoglobin that facilitates oxygen transport in the body. Heme is also responsible for the red coloration of blood. The presence of heme in the fossil is significant, as it has not been previously detected in a dinosaur fossil in a vascular canal.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that these structures may be fossilized red blood cells. However, not all scientists are convinced by the findings. Sandra Siljestrom, an organic geochemist at RISE Research Institutes in Sweden, finds some of the data compelling but notes that it is a little noisy. Siljestrom questions the morphology of the potential red blood cells, citing their size and lack of a nucleus.
Despite these concerns, Grice argues that the evidence should be considered collectively. She believes that the combination of the chemical analysis, the location of the structures, and their concentration supports the possibility that they are dinosaur blood cells. Grice hopes that applying her method to other dinosaur and ancient animal bones will help confirm her findings.
The discovery, if confirmed, could provide valuable insights into the biology of dinosaurs. The presence of heme in the fossil suggests that these ancient creatures may have had similar oxygen transport mechanisms to modern animals. Further research is needed to verify the findings and explore the implications of this discovery.
Grice's study demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary research, combining geology, chemistry, and biology to understand the secrets of the past. The use of advanced analytical techniques has allowed scientists to gain a deeper understanding of the fossil record and potentially uncover new evidence of ancient life.
While the findings are promising, they are not without controversy. The scientific community will need to thoroughly review and debate the evidence before it can be confirmed. Nevertheless, the discovery has sparked interest and discussion among researchers, and it may pave the way for future breakthroughs in the field of paleontology.
Key points
- The presence of heme in the 115-million-year-old dinosaur fossil suggests that the ancient creatures may have had similar oxygen transport mechanisms to modern animals.
