For many years, scientists believed that fossilization was a process that completely destroyed any original organic molecules, leaving only the hard structures of bones and shells behind. The prevailing thought was that the intense pressures and chemical changes during fossilization would eliminate all traces of original organic materials, leaving us with only mineralized remains to study.
However, a groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the University of Liverpool has revealed something extraordinary: Mesozoic fossils, including dinosaur remains, can still preserve original organic molecules, including proteins like collagen, long after the organisms died. This discovery not only challenges long-standing assumptions but also provides new insights into the potential preservation of ancient biological material, opening doors to studying ancient life forms in ways that were once thought impossible.
The Breakthrough Discovery: Collagen in Dinosaur Fossils
The study centers around a 22-kilogram fossil of an Edmontosaurus, a duck-billed dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 75 million years ago. This exceptionally well-preserved fossil was excavated from the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota, a renowned site for fossilized remains. It is part of the University of Liverpool’s collections, which provided a unique opportunity for the researchers to conduct advanced analysis.
Using cutting-edge techniques, including mass spectrometry and protein sequencing, the team was able to identify and confirm the presence of preserved collagen remnants in the fossil’s hip bone. Collagen, a key protein in bones, tendons, and skin, was previously thought to degrade completely over millions of years, leaving behind only mineralized structures. But the researchers’ results strongly suggest that at least some organic materials, such as collagen, can survive fossilization under specific conditions.
Professor Steve Taylor, Chair of the Mass Spectrometry Research Group at the University of Liverpool’s Department of Electrical Engineering & Electronics, commented on the implications of this discovery, stating:
“This research shows beyond doubt that organic biomolecules, such as proteins like collagen, appear to be present in some fossils. Our results have far-reaching implications.”
This discovery not only debunks the long-held belief that organics in fossils must be the result of contamination, but it also challenges the notion that fossilization leads to the complete loss of original biological materials. Instead, it suggests that some proteins can endure over millions of years, offering new avenues for studying the biochemistry of extinct creatures.
Re-evaluating Fossil Data
One of the most striking aspects of this research is its potential to change how we approach existing fossil collections. For over a century, scientists have used cross-polarized light microscopy to examine fossil bones, often focusing on their mineralized structure. These imaging techniques have provided valuable insights into the physical features of ancient organisms, but they were not designed to detect organic molecules.
Professor Taylor’s research implies that many of the fossil bones previously studied may still harbor intact collagen patches. This could potentially provide a treasure trove of fossil candidates for further analysis. By re-examining old fossil data with modern techniques, scientists could uncover new insights into dinosaur biology, including protein sequences that may reveal new connections between species.
This idea could significantly advance our understanding of the relationships between ancient species, allowing for a more refined understanding of evolutionary processes. The preserved proteins might even help scientists better understand how some of these ancient creatures lived, interacted, and evolved.
The Mystery of Molecular Preservation
One of the most intriguing questions raised by the study is how these proteins have managed to persist in fossils for so long. The mechanisms that allow for the survival of organic molecules like collagen over millions of years are still not fully understood. The conditions under which proteins can remain intact, often in the face of extreme pressures, temperatures, and chemical reactions over time, remain a mystery.
The University of Liverpool team’s study offers a glimpse into the process, but more research is needed to determine the precise environmental factors that contribute to such remarkable preservation. Understanding these factors could unlock further secrets of fossil preservation, providing valuable information about the environments in which these ancient organisms lived.
A Collaborative Effort: Pushing the Boundaries of Fossil Analysis
The study was not the work of a single research group but rather a collaborative effort between several institutions and experts from multiple disciplines. Researchers from UCLA contributed to the analysis by using tandem mass spectrometry, a technique that allowed them to detect and quantify the amino acid hydroxyproline, a key component of collagen found in bones. This was the first time that this specific amino acid was successfully identified in fossilized bone, confirming the presence of collagen remnants.
Further analysis was conducted using facilities at the University of Liverpool’s Materials Innovation Factory and the Centre for Proteome Research, which provided additional support in identifying and confirming the protein fragments. Researchers at the Centre for Proteome Research focused on collagen alpha-1, the primary form of collagen found in bone tissue, and confirmed the presence of collagen fragments within the Edmontosaurus fossil.
Professor Taylor and his team utilized mass spectrometry and protein sequencing to directly measure and characterize the proteins within the fossil, and UCLA experts used advanced methods to quantify specific amino acids. This interdisciplinary collaboration was essential in providing the comprehensive analysis required to confirm the discovery.
Implications for Future Research
The implications of this study extend far beyond the specific case of the Edmontosaurus fossil. The discovery that original proteins, such as collagen, can survive in ancient fossils challenges traditional views of fossilization and opens up new research possibilities.
First and foremost, this discovery highlights the potential for discovering more ancient biological materials in fossils. With mass spectrometry and other advanced techniques, scientists can now probe deeper into fossilized remains to detect traces of original proteins, opening a new frontier in paleobiology. In addition to revealing new biological materials, this approach could also help scientists better understand how ancient organisms lived, grew, and interacted within their environments.
Moreover, the study raises important questions about the preservation of proteins over long periods. How do certain proteins remain intact in fossilized bones for millions of years? What environmental factors contribute to the survival of these materials? The answers to these questions could revolutionize our understanding of fossil preservation, providing crucial information about the geological and environmental conditions that favor the retention of organic molecules.
Conclusion
This pioneering study, which confirmed the preservation of original collagen in a Mesozoic dinosaur fossil, marks a significant milestone in the field of paleontology. The implications of these findings are vast, not only for the study of dinosaurs but for the broader understanding of how biological materials survive over geological time scales.
As researchers continue to explore the potential for protein preservation in fossils, we may uncover even more about the ancient world. By combining advanced analytical techniques with traditional fossil research, scientists are entering a new era of paleontological discovery, one where the boundaries between biology and geology are becoming increasingly blurred.
Ultimately, this breakthrough offers a glimpse into a future where the study of ancient organisms is not limited to their bones and physical remains but also includes their biochemical legacy, allowing scientists to piece together a more complete picture of the creatures that once roamed the Earth.
Reference: Lucien Tuinstra et al, Evidence for Endogenous Collagen in Edmontosaurus Fossil Bone, Analytical Chemistry (2025). DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03115