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Biological Cells Found In Dinosaur Bone Confirmed To Be 67-Million-Year-Old Collagen, Possibly Contain DNA

October 25, 2012 in Animals & Insects, Fossils

In 2005, what appeared to be preserved soft tissue was found inside of a 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus Rex bone. This soft material was confirmed by later research to be collagen. And now new research has provided further strong evidence that these are in fact dinosaur proteins, and not the result of microbial contamination.

The primary evidence is the soft tissue’s reactivity to antibodies that only target specific proteins found in the bone cells of vertebrates. This rules out microbial contamination. And strongly suggests that there are actual T-Rex cells preserved in the soft tissue, and possibly DNA.

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Tags: 67 million year old collagen, dinosaur collagen in 80 million year old bone, dinosaur DNA in bones, dinosaur proteins in bone, DNA from dinosaur cloning, t-rex protein bone
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Bowhead Whale Mysteries Uncovered By Genetic Study Using Modern And Ancient DNA

October 22, 2012 in Animals & Insects

The first genetic analysis of bowhead whales, throughout their entire range, has just been completed. The study was done by using hundreds of unique samples taken from a wide variety of different modern populations and many archaeological hunting sites dating back thousands of years.

The ancient DNA samples used by the researchers have been gathered over the past 20 years, primarily from: “old vessels, toys, and housing material made from baleen — preserved in pre-European settlements in the Canadian Arctic.” The new research has shed some light on the effects that whaling has had on genetic diversity, documenting the loss of several unique mitochondrial lineages in the recent past. The researchers comment that some of this loss may have been caused by the effects of increased sea ice during the ‘little ice age’.

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Tags: ancient whale DNA, Bowhead whales, bowhead whales genetic study, bowhead whales lifespan, bowhead whales long-lived, loss of genetic diversity whales, Prince Regent Inlet whales, Spitsbergen whale DNA
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World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates List Released

October 16, 2012 in Animals & Insects

The 25 most endangered primates in the world have been identified in a new report released by the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity COP11 earlier today. The report, titled “Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates 2012-2014,” was created by the Primate Specialist Group of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission (SSC) and the International Primatological Society (IPS), in collaboration with Conservation International (CI) and the Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation (BCSF).

Primates are the closest living relatives of humans, and the majority of them are rapidly moving towards extinction as their populations and environments are reduced, primarily by humans. All of the world’s apes, monkeys, and ‘true’ lemurs are nearing the brink, and a large number of them have already lost so much genetic diversity that it almost seems inevitable that they will become extinct in the not too distant future. In particular, many rare subspecies of apes are nearing the brink, including the lion-eating Bili Apes (chimps).

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Tags: extinct primates, lemurs endangered, lemurs extinction, most endangered primates, primates extinction, primates in peril, UN's Convention on Biological Diversity, Worlds most endangered primates
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Illegal Hunting And Bushmeat Trade Will Lead To Ecosystem Collapse In Many Parts Of Africa, New Report From Panthera Says

October 15, 2012 in Animals & Insects

Widespread illegal hunting throughout Africa and a growing bushmeat trade will lead to a ‘conservation crisis’ if there isn’t significantly more effort, focus and resources invested to combat them, according to a new report from Panthera. Illegal hunting is occurring much more frequently and having a much greater effect on animal populations in the savannas of Africa than was previously thought. These findings directly challenge previously held beliefs about the illegal bushmeat trade in Africa and its effects, with new research and analysis from experts in various fields.

The bushmeat trade has been considered a significant threat to the resources of indigenous peoples and to animal populations in the forests of Central and West Africa for a longtime, but until now there hasn’t been much attention focused on the African savannas. This is partly because there is a common misconception that the illegal hunting there is only on a small-scale, and is just for subsistence.

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Tags: Bushmeat trade effects, ecosystem collapse Africa, illegal hunting Africa damage, illegal hunting Africa extinction, Panthera bushmeat trade, TRAFFIC illegal hunting Africa
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Lions In Ethiopia Are Genetically Distinct, DNA Evidence Confirms

October 12, 2012 in Animals & Insects

The Addis Ababa lion in Ethiopia has been found to be genetically distinct from all other lions, by new DNA evidence. Immediate action to ‘protect’ this nearly extinct lion population is necessary to prevent its approaching extinction, say the researchers involved in the work.

It has long been observed that the lions in some parts of Ethiopia have a much larger, darker mane than other lions; extending from the head, neck and chest to the belly. They also tend towards being more compact and of smaller stature than other lions. But whether these observable differences were due to genetic differences or other causes wasn’t known until this new genetic research.

The research, done by comparing the DNA samples taken from 15 different Addis Ababa Zoo lions to a variety of different wild lion breeds, shows very clearly that the captive lions at the zoo are genetically distinct from all other known lion populations.

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Tags: genetically distinct lions, Lions Ethiopia, lions Ethiopia subspecies, subspecies lions
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