Teen T-Rex tissue recovered

Almighty Colin · 03-25-2005

WASHINGTON — For more than a century, the study of dinosaurs has been limited to fossilized bones. Now, researchers have recovered 70-million-year-old soft tissue, including what may be blood vessels and cells, from a Tyrannosaurus rex (search).

If scientists can isolate proteins from the material, they may be able to learn new details of how dinosaurs lived, said lead researcher Mary Higby Schweitzer (search) of North Carolina State University.

"We're doing a lot of stuff in the lab right now that looks promising," she said in a telephone interview. But, she said, she does not know yet if scientists will be able to isolate dinosaur DNA (search) from the materials.

It was recovered dinosaur DNA — the blueprint for life — that was featured in the fictional recreation of the ancient animals in the book and film "Jurassic Park."

The soft tissues were recovered from the thighbone of a T. rex, known as MOR 1125, that was found in a sandstone formation in Montana. The dinosaur was about 18 years old when it died.

The bone was broken when it was removed from the site. Schweitzer and her colleagues then analyzed the material inside the bone.

"The vessels and contents are similar in all respects to blood vessels recovered from ... ostrich bone," they reported in a paper bring published Friday in the journal Science.

Because evidence has accumulated in recent years that modern birds descended from dinosaurs, Schweitzer said she chose to compare the dinosaur remains with those of an ostrich, the largest bird available.

Brooks Hanson, a deputy editor of Science, noted that there are few examples of soft tissues, except for leaves or petrified wood, that are preserved as fossils, just as there are few discoveries of insects in amber or humans and mammoths in peat or ice.

Soft tissues are rare in older finds. "That's why in a 70-million-year-old fossil it is so interesting," he said.

Matthew Carrano, curator of dinosaurs at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, said the discovery was "pretty exciting stuff."

"You are actually getting into the small-scale biology of the animal, which is something we rarely get the opportunity to look at," said Carrano, who was not part of the research team.

In addition, he said, it is a huge opportunity to learn more about how fossils are made, a process that is not fully understood.

Richard A. Hengst of Purdue University said the finding "opens the door for research into the protein structure of ancient organisms, if nothing else. While we think that nature is conservative in how things are built, this gives scientists an opportunity to observe this at the chemical and cellular level." Hengst was not part of the research team.

John R. Horner of the Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University, said the discovery is "a fantastic specimen," but probably is not unique. Other researchers might find similarly preserved soft tissues if they split open the bones in their collections, said Horner, a co-author of the paper.

Most museums, he said, prefer to keep their specimens intact.

Schweitzer said that after removing the minerals from the specimen, the remaining tissues were soft and transparent and could be manipulated with instruments.

The bone matrix was stretchy and flexible, she said. Also, there were long structures like blood vessels. What appeared to be individual cells were visible.

She did not know if they were blood cells. "They are little round cells," Schweitzer said.

She likened the process to placing a chicken bone in vinegar. The minerals will dissolve, leaving the soft tissues.

The research was funded by North Carolina State University and grants from N. Myhrvold and the National Science Foundation.

Newton · 03-25-2005

There would be a lot of pressure to clone those cells if viable

I initially read the title and thought they had uncovered Marc Bolans tissue and thought wtf? ...

Almighty Colin · 03-25-2005

Quote:

Originally posted by Newton@Mar 25 2005, 08:30 AM
There would be a lot of pressure to clone those cells if viable

I initially read the title and thought they had uncovered Marc Bolans tissue and thought wtf? ...

Isn't he still alive?

Newton · 03-25-2005

The saga of Marc Bolan (a.k.a. T.Rex) is one of a spunky little dreamer who looked and played the part of an elvish minstrel; whose bizarre voice and songs were dismissed by critics as a fleeting novelty or, worse, a bad joke; and whose most laughable trait of all was a near-mystical belief in his own importance and destiny - in short, a surefire loser who played by rules all his own and went on to become the biggest pop star in Britain. - From "The British Invasion - From The First Wave To The New Wave" by Nicholas Schaffner

On September 16th, 1977, Marc and Gloria were returning home in the wee hours of the morning from a club. Gloria was at the wheel as Marc, despite his love for cars, had never learned to drive. On a tight curve in Barnes Common, Gloria lost control of the car which left the road and hit a tree. Just weeks short of his 30th birthday, Marc Bolan was killed instantly.

Paul Markham · 03-25-2005

This is a little early, April Fools day isn't until next Friday.

Newton · 03-25-2005

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,151426,00.html

Almighty Colin · 03-25-2005

Quote:

Originally posted by Newton@Mar 25 2005, 08:43 AM
On September 16th, 1977, Marc and Gloria were returning home in the wee hours of the morning from a club. Gloria was at the wheel as Marc, despite his love for cars, had never learned to drive. On a tight curve in Barnes Common, Gloria lost control of the car which left the road and hit a tree. Just weeks short of his 30th birthday, Marc Bolan was killed instantly.

News travels slowly across the pond.

Nickatilynx · 03-25-2005

I burned honeyblond with it last week in another thread...

What was Marc Bolan's last hit?
She said "I love to boogie"
Whereas the correct answer is a "tree"

I'm sorry Colin , I know you've been away , but you are going to have to catch up.

There will be a test later this year .

;-)

JoesHO · 03-25-2005

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul Markham@Mar 25 2005, 05:44 AM
This is a little early, April Fools day isn't until next Friday.

somebodys board tracker went off for the word TEEN LOL

How you doing today paul? nice to see you stop by.

03-25-2005	#1
Almighty Colin Members Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 8,059	WASHINGTON — For more than a century, the study of dinosaurs has been limited to fossilized bones. Now, researchers have recovered 70-million-year-old soft tissue, including what may be blood vessels and cells, from a Tyrannosaurus rex (search). If scientists can isolate proteins from the material, they may be able to learn new details of how dinosaurs lived, said lead researcher Mary Higby Schweitzer (search) of North Carolina State University. "We're doing a lot of stuff in the lab right now that looks promising," she said in a telephone interview. But, she said, she does not know yet if scientists will be able to isolate dinosaur DNA (search) from the materials. It was recovered dinosaur DNA — the blueprint for life — that was featured in the fictional recreation of the ancient animals in the book and film "Jurassic Park." The soft tissues were recovered from the thighbone of a T. rex, known as MOR 1125, that was found in a sandstone formation in Montana. The dinosaur was about 18 years old when it died. The bone was broken when it was removed from the site. Schweitzer and her colleagues then analyzed the material inside the bone. "The vessels and contents are similar in all respects to blood vessels recovered from ... ostrich bone," they reported in a paper bring published Friday in the journal Science. Because evidence has accumulated in recent years that modern birds descended from dinosaurs, Schweitzer said she chose to compare the dinosaur remains with those of an ostrich, the largest bird available. Brooks Hanson, a deputy editor of Science, noted that there are few examples of soft tissues, except for leaves or petrified wood, that are preserved as fossils, just as there are few discoveries of insects in amber or humans and mammoths in peat or ice. Soft tissues are rare in older finds. "That's why in a 70-million-year-old fossil it is so interesting," he said. Matthew Carrano, curator of dinosaurs at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, said the discovery was "pretty exciting stuff." "You are actually getting into the small-scale biology of the animal, which is something we rarely get the opportunity to look at," said Carrano, who was not part of the research team. In addition, he said, it is a huge opportunity to learn more about how fossils are made, a process that is not fully understood. Richard A. Hengst of Purdue University said the finding "opens the door for research into the protein structure of ancient organisms, if nothing else. While we think that nature is conservative in how things are built, this gives scientists an opportunity to observe this at the chemical and cellular level." Hengst was not part of the research team. John R. Horner of the Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University, said the discovery is "a fantastic specimen," but probably is not unique. Other researchers might find similarly preserved soft tissues if they split open the bones in their collections, said Horner, a co-author of the paper. Most museums, he said, prefer to keep their specimens intact. Schweitzer said that after removing the minerals from the specimen, the remaining tissues were soft and transparent and could be manipulated with instruments. The bone matrix was stretchy and flexible, she said. Also, there were long structures like blood vessels. What appeared to be individual cells were visible. She did not know if they were blood cells. "They are little round cells," Schweitzer said. She likened the process to placing a chicken bone in vinegar. The minerals will dissolve, leaving the soft tissues. The research was funded by North Carolina State University and grants from N. Myhrvold and the National Science Foundation. __________________ Almighty Content. Your one stop for live content. Secret Friends, LATINA Secret Friends , My Cam Friends

03-25-2005	#2
Newton It's always business, never personal! The POWER of radio Oprano Radio Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: On a golf course Posts: 4,916	There would be a lot of pressure to clone those cells if viable I initially read the title and thought they had uncovered Marc Bolans tissue and thought wtf? ... __________________ Poser Bush in a mix-up over his hi-tech gizmo - ICLOD

03-25-2005	#4
Newton It's always business, never personal! The POWER of radio Oprano Radio Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: On a golf course Posts: 4,916	The saga of Marc Bolan (a.k.a. T.Rex) is one of a spunky little dreamer who looked and played the part of an elvish minstrel; whose bizarre voice and songs were dismissed by critics as a fleeting novelty or, worse, a bad joke; and whose most laughable trait of all was a near-mystical belief in his own importance and destiny - in short, a surefire loser who played by rules all his own and went on to become the biggest pop star in Britain. - From "The British Invasion - From The First Wave To The New Wave" by Nicholas Schaffner On September 16th, 1977, Marc and Gloria were returning home in the wee hours of the morning from a club. Gloria was at the wheel as Marc, despite his love for cars, had never learned to drive. On a tight curve in Barnes Common, Gloria lost control of the car which left the road and hit a tree. Just weeks short of his 30th birthday, Marc Bolan was killed instantly. __________________ Poser Bush in a mix-up over his hi-tech gizmo - ICLOD

03-25-2005	#5
Paul Markham Members Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 309	This is a little early, April Fools day isn't until next Friday. __________________ A mix of Amateur, Retro, Teens, UK Porn Stars, UK Page 3 girls and Hairy Pussy. All shot by me in the 80s and 90s. ICQ 213327873, Skype paulmarkham1

03-25-2005	#6
Newton It's always business, never personal! The POWER of radio Oprano Radio Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: On a golf course Posts: 4,916	http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,151426,00.html __________________ Poser Bush in a mix-up over his hi-tech gizmo - ICLOD

03-25-2005	#8
Nickatilynx Banned Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 15,115	I burned honeyblond with it last week in another thread... What was Marc Bolan's last hit? She said "I love to boogie" Whereas the correct answer is a "tree" I'm sorry Colin , I know you've been away , but you are going to have to catch up. There will be a test later this year . ;-)