” Its really exciting to discover new similarities between birds and dinosaurs,” said Tiffany Slater, a paleontologist at UCC and lead author on the brand-new research study. “Using X-rays and infrared light, we discovered that plumes from the dinosaur Sinornithosaurus included great deals of beta-proteins, similar to feathers of birds today. This finding confirms our hypothesis that dinosaur birds had stiff feathers– like in modern birds.”
The essence of the issue is the protein mix. Earlier tests on dinosaur feathers found primarily alpha-keratin proteins, which result in less stiff plumes, whereas modern bird plumes are rich in beta-keratin proteins, which strengthen plumes for flight. Still, the researchers questioned whether that distinction reflected the real chemistry of the plumes throughout life or an artifact of the fossilization process.
To learn, Slater and fellow UCC paleontologist Maria McNamara teamed with SSRL researchers to examine 125-million-year-old feathers from the dinosaur Sinornithosaurus and the early bird Confuciusornis, plus a 50-million-year-old feather from the U.S. They recently released their results in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.
To find the proteins in the ancient plumes, researchers positioned the fossils in front of SSRLs effective X-rays, which revealed whether key components of beta-proteins were present. This helped the scientists figure out if a samples beta-proteins were still in their “native” type or if they had modified gradually– and how that change proceeds chemically, SSRL scientist Sam Webb stated..
The team also carried out separate experiments that mimic the temperatures that the fossils are subjected to over time, Webb stated. These experiments showed that alpha-proteins can form in a fossil due to the fossilization procedure, instead of belonging to the feather during life..
The analysis revealed that while some fossil feathers consist of lots of alpha-proteins, they were likely not there initially, however rather formed gradually. They formed due to the high extreme heat that fossils experience.
” Our experiments help discuss that this odd chemical inconsistency is the result of protein deterioration throughout the fossilization process,” Slater stated. “So although some dinosaur feathers do preserve traces of the initial beta-proteins, other fossil plumes contain alpha-proteins that formed during fossilization.”.
” The concept that initial protein compositions might alter gradually is an often overlooked aspect of taking a look at biomarkers from deep time,” Webb said. “Comparing our X-ray spectroscopy results to the additional laboratory measurements of experimentally heated feather samples helped adjust our findings.”.
” Traces of ancient biomolecules can clearly make it through for countless years, but you cant read the fossil record literally because even seemingly well-preserved fossil tissues have actually been prepared and squashed throughout fossilization,” stated Maria McNamara, senior author on the research study..
” Were establishing new tools to comprehend what happens during fossilization and unlock the chemical tricks of fossils,” McNamara said. “This will give us amazing new insights into development.”.
Referral: “Preservation of corneous β-proteins in Mesozoic feathers” by Tiffany S. Slater, Nicholas P. Edwards, Samuel M. Webb, Fucheng Zhang, and Maria E. McNamara, 21 September 2023, Nature Ecology & & Evolution.DOI: 10.1038/ s41559-023-02177-8.
New research study exposes dinosaur feathers had a protein structure similar to modern-day birds, hinting at an early origin of bird plume chemistry, possibly 125 million years ago. The research study found that alpha-proteins in fossil plumes likely formed due to heat throughout fossilization, not initially present. (Artists principle of a dinosaurs plume).
Earlier tests on dinosaur plumes discovered primarily alpha-keratin proteins, which result in less stiff plumes, whereas contemporary bird feathers are abundant in beta-keratin proteins, which strengthen plumes for flight. Still, the researchers questioned whether that distinction showed the genuine chemistry of the feathers during life or an artifact of the fossilization process.
New research study exposes dinosaur feathers had a protein composition similar to contemporary birds, meaning an early origin of bird plume chemistry, potentially 125 million years ago. The study discovered that alpha-proteins in fossil feathers most likely formed due to heat throughout fossilization, not originally present. (Artists principle of a dinosaurs plume).
Powerful X-rays generated at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have allowed scientists to acquire brand-new insights into the evolution of plumes.
How carefully associated are dinosaurs to todays birds? A current study looks into this question, investigating the development and modification of proteins in dinosaur feathers over countless years and under severe heat.
Previous studies suggest that dinosaur feathers included proteins that made them less stiff than modern bird feathers. Now, researchers with University College Cork (UCC), the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Light Source (SSRL) at the Department of Energys SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, and other organizations have found that dinosaur feathers originally had an extremely similar protein structure to those of contemporary birds.
That result implies that todays bird plume chemistry likely came from much earlier than previously thought, perhaps as early as 125 million years back.
