In Alberta, Canada, paleontologists found a 75 million-year-old dinosaur fossil that actually still had red blood cells and connective tissue such as collagen. As so little is known about dinosaur physiology — including such basic questions as warm- or cold-blooded? — this is major. The journal Nature Communications featured this study by Imperial London College.
Chemical Analysis of The Dinosaur Fossil
Results are in after extensive chemical analysis and the it appears that the same red blood cells from those fossils resemble those blood cells in today’s living emu. Not an off-base find as birds are descendants of dinosaurs, the emu not withstanding. Chemical analysis of the collagen protein and blood cells were carried out using a mass spectrometer.
Does This Dinosaur Fossil Answer Real Questions?
The fossils from this study are in the London Natural History Museum and are quite shabby, broken bones. Dr. Susannah Maidment a paleontologist of the Imperial London College could not even identify what dinosaur it could have belong to. It was really a fossilized dinosaur claw, but it was the dense inner core that provided any real information. Within the claw fragment, they were able to find the red blood cells of interest. Another fragment contained the fibrous collagen-resembling structures. In today’s world, collagen is found in tendons, skin and ligaments of living creatures.
While this is not the first time something like this has been found in dinosaur fossils, this is the first time that remnants like this have been found preserved in such badly preserved fossils. The fossils are so shabby that the soft tissue findings are curious. Dr. Maidment describes the findings as, “genuine remnants of soft tissue; they are not fossilized.”
Ideally, what paleontologists would love to answer is the physiological questions of whether dinosaurs were warm-blooded or cold-blooded. Answering that question would provide answers to behavioral questions such as: Were dinosaurs more like reptiles or birds? If reptiles, how much more? If birds, how much more?
Can we tell if dinosaurs are warm-blooded or cold-blooded?
Contemporary science understands that a relationship between smaller red blood cells and faster metabolic rates exists, and that faster metabolic rates tend to indicate warm-blooded animals; slower metabolic rates indicate cold-blooded animals. The truth of the matter is that the relationship between red blood cell size and metabolic rate is not yet determinable. There has not been enough evidence in the samples to really impart any real indications. It would take more red blood cells from various dinosaurs. This would enable us to understand the metabolic rates, which were approaching warm-bloodedness based on their metabolic rates.
This Dinosaur Fossil Can’t be Soo Shabby After All
This study is an example of a spectacular use of material in ancient fossils. As incomplete as this fossil was, researchers were able to investigate in-depth, and from all angles. These researchers were also duly cautious with the conclusions they made.
Dr. Maidment confirms that there has never been DNA found in dinosaur remains — however, she believes it unwise to shut the door on the possibility of ever finding some in the future.
