Navigation Links
Protein fragments sequenced in 68 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex

In a venture once thought to lie outside the reach of science, researchers from Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have captured and sequenced tiny pieces of collagen protein from a 68 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex. The protein fragments—seven in all—appear to most closely match amino acid sequences found in collagen of present day chickens, lending support to a recent and still controversial proposal that birds and dinosaurs are evolutionarily related. The HMS and BIDMC researchers, working with scientists at North Carolina State University, report their findings in the April 13 Science.

"Most people believe that birds evolved from dinosaurs, but that’s all based on the architecture of the bones," said John Asara, director of the mass spectrometry core facility at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical School and HMS instructor in pathology, who sequenced the protein fragments over the course of a year and a half using highly sensitive mass spectrometry methods. "This allows you to get the chance to say, ‘Wait, they really are related because their sequences are related.?We didn’t get enough sequences to definitively say that, but what sequences we got support that idea."

In another study appearing in the same issue of Science, Mary Schweitzer, of North Carolina State University, and colleagues found that extracts of T. rex bone reacted with antibodies to chicken collagen, further suggesting the presence of birdlike protein in the dinosaur bones.

The mere existence of such exceedingly ancient protein defies a longstanding assumption. When an animal dies, protein immediately begins to degrade and, in the case of fossils, is slowly replaced by mineral. This substitution process was thought to be complete by one million years.

"For centuries it was believed that the process of fossilization destroyed any original material, consequently no one looked carefully at really old bones," said Schweitzer, who is al
'"/>

Source:Harvard Medical School


Page: 1 2 3 4

Related biology news :

1. Quantum Dots Research Leads to New Knowledge about Protein Binding in Plants
2. Protein discovery could unlock the secret to better TB treatment
3. Researchers Uncover Key Step In Manufacture of Memory Protein
4. An HIV Protein Plays a Surprising Role in Gene Activation
5. Protein Packages Found To Activate Genes; May Be What Regulates Development And Disease
6. New SARS Protein Linked To Important Cell Doorway
7. The Shapes Of Life: NIGMS Project Yields More Than 1,000 Protein Structures
8. PANTHER Protein Classification System Database 5.0
9. Duke Chemists Isolating Individual Molecules Of Toxic Protein In Alzheimers, Parkinsons Disease
10. Newly Discovered Compound Blocks Known Cancer-Causing Protein
11. UF Researchers Map Bacterial Proteins That Cause Tooth Loss
Post Your Comments:
(Date:12/11/2009)... in French . , Montreal, December ... molecular mechanism that prevents cancer. In the December 11 ... scientists from the Universit de Montral and the Universit ... molecule prevents the cancer-causing activity of cytokines, hormones that ... Crohns, in smokers and people exposed to asbestos. ...
(Date:12/11/2009)... growers, profits have traditionally been limited by ... growing seasons can be short. Thanks to ... are being introduced that offer growers the ... in economic bonuses for both producers and ... of blackberry called "primocane-fruiting", which bear fruit ...
(Date:12/11/2009)... best dietary source of Omega 3, according to a study ... The scientists analysed the eggs, or roe, of 15 marine ... these fatty acids, which are essential to the human body. ... the nutritional potential of the roe of marine animals, but ... that this is one of the best natural sources of ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Scientists identify natural anti-cancer defenses 2New management methods extend blackberry season 2Roe of marine animals is best natural source of omega-3 2CIGNA Corp s John M Murabito Named 2009 HR Executive of the Year 58750 1CIGNA Corp s John M Murabito Named 2009 HR Executive of the Year 58750 2CIGNA Corp s John M Murabito Named 2009 HR Executive of the Year 58750 3CIGNA Corp s John M Murabito Named 2009 HR Executive of the Year 58750 4R 26amp 3BD Leverage Heightens Investment in Medical and Silicone Mold Manufacturing 58745 1R 26amp 3BD Leverage Heightens Investment in Medical and Silicone Mold Manufacturing 58745 2R 26amp 3BD Leverage Heightens Investment in Medical and Silicone Mold Manufacturing 58745 3New Fall Allergy Capitals 28TM 29 Reveal the Most Challenging Cities for Allergy Sufferers 5186 1New Fall Allergy Capitals 28TM 29 Reveal the Most Challenging Cities for Allergy Sufferers 5186 2New Fall Allergy Capitals 28TM 29 Reveal the Most Challenging Cities for Allergy Sufferers 5186 3New Fall Allergy Capitals 28TM 29 Reveal the Most Challenging Cities for Allergy Sufferers 5186 4New Fall Allergy Capitals 28TM 29 Reveal the Most Challenging Cities for Allergy Sufferers 5186 5New Fall Allergy Capitals 28TM 29 Reveal the Most Challenging Cities for Allergy Sufferers 5186 6
... Acid rain was one of the worlds worst pollution problems ... Britain, as well as Europe and North America. , In ... been acidified, harming fish, stream insects and river birds such ... has been taken across Europe to clean up acid pollutants ...
... States participating in the GMES Programme approved the transition ... Component Programme. , Oversubscription of the programme by the ... with oversubscription to phase 2 of 116%, giving a ... the programme will allow ESA to confirm the development ...
... the United States is a neurological event such as ... cause, the brain is often quickly and irreversibly damaged. ... the National Institutes of Health, will study point-of-care technologies ... neurologic emergencies. The result is the "Point-of-Care Center for ...
Other Biology News:Recovery from acid rain 'much slower than expected' 2NIH awards UC $9 million grant to improve patient point-of-care technologies 2NIH awards UC $9 million grant to improve patient point-of-care technologies 3
(Date:12/14/2009)... 14 Dyadic International, Inc. (Pink Sheets: ... its collaboration with The Scripps Research Institute ("Scripps") ... re-annotate the genome of Dyadic,s patented and proprietary ... continuation of the successful relationship between the two ... engaged Scripps to annotate the C1 genome for ...
(Date:12/14/2009)... NATICK, Mass., Dec. 14 Boston Scientific Corporation ... of a public offering of $2 billion aggregate principal ... registration statement. The public offering consists of $850 ... million of 6.00 percent notes due January 2020 and ... Boston Scientific plans to use the net proceeds ...
(Date:12/14/2009)... Dec. 14 Decision Resources, one of ... pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, owing to ... fibrillation drug market will increase more than sevenfold ... in 2018 in the United States, France, Germany, ... The new Pharmacor report entitled Atrial Fibrillation ...
(Date:12/11/2009)... EntreMed, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENMD ), today announced ... from sales of Thalomid® during the third quarter ... In addition, the Company anticipates a decrease ... 2009. The difference in estimated and actual ... in the fourth quarter financial results. ,, (Logo: ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Dyadic International Extends Collaboration With The Scripps Research Institute 2Dyadic International Extends Collaboration With The Scripps Research Institute 3Dyadic International Extends Collaboration With The Scripps Research Institute 4Dyadic International Extends Collaboration With The Scripps Research Institute 5Boston Scientific Announces Completion of $2 Billion Senior Notes Offering 2Boston Scientific Announces Completion of $2 Billion Senior Notes Offering 3The Atrial Fibrillation Drug Market Will Increase More Than Sevenfold, from $790 Million in 2008 to $6.1 Billion in 2018 2EntreMed Reports Receipt of Third Quarter Royalty Payment 2
... ZMH ; SWX: ZMH) announced that certain of ... from Abbott for approximately,$360 million in cash. Zimmer said ... hand and borrowings under existing credit facilities., The ... of 2008. The,boards of directors of both companies have ...
... Colo., Sept. 4 InVitria,( http://www.invitria.com ... animal free,products that enhance productivity, safety ... the biopharmaceutical, cell culture, life science ... of Cambridge Healthtech,Institute,s 4th Annual "Optimizing ...
... and National Development in Taiwan, 1950-2000, Celebrates ... Editor of a Comprehensive History of ... Dialogue on a National Health Care System ... Worth Studying, NEW YORK, Sept. 4 ...
Other Biology Technology:Zimmer Holdings, Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire Abbott Spine, an Innovator in Spinal Technology 2Zimmer Holdings, Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire Abbott Spine, an Innovator in Spinal Technology 3Zimmer Holdings, Inc. Announces Agreement to Acquire Abbott Spine, an Innovator in Spinal Technology 4InVitria Sponsors Cambridge Healthtech's Optimizing Cell Culture Development Conference 2ABMAC Foundation Announces Publication of an Historic Volume Documenting the Creation of a National Health Care System in Taiwan 2ABMAC Foundation Announces Publication of an Historic Volume Documenting the Creation of a National Health Care System in Taiwan 3
The Magnetic Separation Rack is designed to be used for small-scale separations using magnetic particles. ,Capacity: 6 microcentrifuge tubes....
... the 9, 10, 12, and 13 positions. It ... for the quantification of 9(S)-HODE by GC- or ... of linoleic acid in both plants and animals. ... an esterified component of membrane phospholipids and in ...
5(S)-HETE-d8 is used as an internal standard for the quantification of 5(S)-HETE by stable isotope dilution mass spectrometry....
...
Biology Products: