We recovered no genetic material. What happened is that the bones ended up is anoxic (oxygen-free) mineral-rich water and the proteins mineralized. After dissolving the minerals, one compares the proteins to living organisms.
It would be nice if journalists could get something right. Another wrong detail is the especially close; all birds are about equally related to T. rex.
DNA is much more fragile than protein. I would be surprised if we ever recover DNA from Mesozoic fossils.
We recovered no genetic material. What happened is that the bones ended up is anoxic (oxygen-free) mineral-rich water and the proteins mineralized. After dissolving the minerals, one compares the proteins to living organisms.
Walabio 3 years ago
Interesting. The article was written by journalist. So you can't expect him to get all the details right.
A4AgnstcFndmntlst 3 years ago
It would be nice if journalists could get something right. Another wrong detail is the especially close; all birds are about equally related to T. rex.
DNA is much more fragile than protein. I would be surprised if we ever recover DNA from Mesozoic fossils.
Walabio 3 years ago
A little more than 68 millennia, I should think...
XGralgrathor 3 years ago