Soft tissue found in T-rex fossil

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Apoptosis
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Soft tissue found in T-rex fossil

Post by Apoptosis »

This is some pretty crazy stuff when you think about it. They think they found enough soft tissue (blood cells and cells) to get some Dino DNA!!!

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If scientists can isolate proteins from the material, they may be able to learn new details of how dinosaurs lived, said lead researcher Mary Higby Schweitzer of North Carolina State University.

"We're doing a lot of stuff in the lab right now that looks promising," she said in a telephone interview.

It was recovered dinosaur DNA -- the blueprint for life -- that was featured in the fictional recreation of the ancient animals in the book and film "Jurassic Park." Although that was science fiction, Schweitzer said she was not sure if scientists would be able to isolate dinosaur DNA fragments from the fossilized materials.

The soft tissues were recovered from the thighbone of a T. rex, known as MOR 1125, that was found in a sandstone formation in Montana. The dinosaur was about 18 years old when it died.
Source: CNN News
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Amy
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Post by Amy »

The dinosaur was 18 years old...You know? I never thought about this, but how old did dinosaurs get? Now I'm going to have nightmares about a real Jurassic Park...j/k
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