The fossil is an exceptionally well preserved Edmontosaurus sacrum (Credit University of Liverpool)
For years, scientists believed that the relentless march of time erased all traces of original organic molecules from fossils, with the fossilization process reducing ancient remains to mere mineral echoes of the past.
But now, a groundbreaking discovery led by the University of Liverpool has shattered this long-held assumption. In a stunning revelation, researchers have uncovered compelling evidence that Mesozoic fossils—including the very bones and teeth of dinosaurs—still cradle fragments of their original organic materials, preserved against all odds for millions of years.
Researchers used advanced mass spectrometry and other techniques to identify preserved collagen remnants in the hip bone of an Edmontosaurus, a duck-billed dinosaur. This discovery helps settle a thirty-year-old debate.
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The study, published in the journal Analytical Chemistry, used several techniques, including protein sequencing, to detect and characterize bone collagen in the 22-kilogram fossil. The fossil is an exceptionally well preserved Edmontosaurus sacrum excavated from Upper Cretaceous strata of the South Dakota Hell Creek Formation. It is part of the University of Liverpool’s collections and offered a unique opportunity for cutting-edge analyses.
Professor Steve Taylor, chair of the Mass Spectrometry Research Group at the University of Liverpool’s Department of Electrical Engineering & Electronics, said, “This research shows beyond doubt that organic biomolecules, such as proteins like collagen, appear to be present in some fossils. Our results have far-reaching implications. Firstly, it refutes the hypothesis that any organics found in fossils must result from contamination.”
“Secondly, it suggests that cross-polarized light microscopy images of fossil bones, collected for a century, should be revisited,” he added. “These images may reveal intact patches of bone collagen, potentially offering a ready-made trove of fossil candidates for further protein analysis. This could unlock new insights into dinosaurs– for example revealing connections between dinosaur species that remain unknown. Lastly, the findings inform the intriguing mystery of how these proteins have managed to persist in fossils for so long.”
The research not only appears to resolve a long-standing scientific debate but also opens further avenues for studying ancient life, offering a glimpse into the biochemical preservation of fossils of extinct creatures.
