Paleontologists discovered molecular evidence of phaeomelanin, the pigment that produces ginger pigmentation.
” This will paint a more accurate photo of ancient animal color.”
Phaeomelanin is now poisonous to animals– discovery may be first step in comprehending its development.
Paleontologists at University College Cork (UCC) have discovered the first molecular evidence of phaeomelanin, the pigment that produces ginger coloration, in the fossil record.
The brand-new study reports the preservation of molecular pieces of the pigment phaeomelanin in 10-million-year-old frogs, including molecular analysis to the paleontologists arsenal when reconstructing the original colors of extinct organisms.
The study, published today (October 6) in Nature Communications, was led by paleontologists Dr. Tiffany Slater and Prof. Maria McNamara of UCCs School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences (BEES) and Environmental Research Institute (ERI). They dealt with an international group of researchers at Fujita Health University (Japan), Linyi University (China), and Lund University (Sweden).
Illustration of the main findings reported in Slater et al., 2023 released in Nature Communications. Credit: Science Graphic Design
Dr. Slater stated: “This finding is so exciting due to the fact that it puts paleontologists in a much better place to spot various melanin pigments in much more fossils.
” This will paint a more precise photo of ancient animal color and will answer important questions about the evolution of colors in animals. Researchers still do not understand how– or why– phaeomelanin progressed because it is poisonous to animals, however the fossil record may simply unlock the mystery.”
Prof. Maria McNamara (left) and Dr. Tiffany Slater envisioned at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at University College Cork. Credit: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision
The team carried out rigorous lab experiments on black, ginger, and white feathers to track how phaeomelanin pigments break down throughout the fossilization process, which supports their interpretations of the fossil chemistry.
Prof. McNamara, senior author on the study, said, “Fossils are invariably altered by the ravages of heat and pressure throughout burial, however that doesnt suggest that we lose all initial biomolecular details. Our fossilization experiments were the essential to comprehending the chemistry of the fossils, and showed that traces of biomolecules can survive being prepared throughout the fossilization procedure.
Prof. Maria McNamara (left) and Dr. Tiffany Slater visualized at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at University College Cork. Credit: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision
” There is substantial potential to check out the biochemical evolution of animals utilizing the fossil record, when we represent chemical modifications during fossilization.”
Reference: “Taphonomic experiments expose authentic molecular signals for fossil melanins and verify conservation of phaeomelanin in fossils” 6 October 2023, Nature Communications.DOI: 10.1038/ s41467-023-40570-w.
False color scanning electron microscopy image of zebra finch plume showing the feather cortex (in blue) and melanosomes (melanin-rich granules, in orange). Scale bar indicates 1 µm. Credit: Dr. Tiffany Slater