Insights Blog
-- Browse All Articles --
Physics Articles
Physics Tutorials
Physics Guides
Physics FAQ
Math Articles
Math Tutorials
Math Guides
Math FAQ
Education Articles
Education Guides
Bio/Chem Articles
Technology Guides
Computer Science Tutorials
Forums
Chemistry
Biology and Medical
Earth Sciences
Computer Science
Computing and Technology
DIY Projects
Trending
Featured Threads
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Chemistry
Biology and Medical
Earth Sciences
Computer Science
Computing and Technology
DIY Projects
Menu
Log in
Register
Navigation
More options
Contact us
Close Menu
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Forums
Other Sciences
Biology and Medical
Explore Ancient Dinosaur Keratin Proteins
Reply to thread
Message
[QUOTE="BillTre, post: 6125374, member: 581757"] [URL='https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/01/fossil-feathers-reveal-how-dinosaurs-took-flight?utm_campaign=news_daily_2019-01-28&et_rid=295682744&et_cid=2624586']Science News article here[/URL]. Keratins are structural proteins in skin, claws, nails, and hair (ectodermal derivatives embryologically speaking). They have evolved through many gene duplications, deletions and partial deletions, and point mutations through vertebrate evolution. Their evolution has been mapped by putting the various forms of living animals on a vertebrate phylogenetic (evolutionary) tree and then inferring their presence in now extinct ancestors. We (people) have alpha-keratins while birds, crocodiles, and reptiles have mostly beta-keratins which are hard and stiff. They are used in beaks and claws, and feathers. Bird feather keratin has lost certain amino acid sequences that let's the keratin become more flexible (good for feathers). Researchers have now made antibodies to parts of the keratin protein that can distinguish between the different kinds of keratin protein. These antibodies were used on some very well preserved dinosaur fossils to identify the kind of keratin present in ancient bird/dinosaur feathers, confirming that they had some flexible beta-keratin 160 million years ago! Just recently, the preservation of proteins in fossils that old was highly controversial. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Post reply
Forums
Other Sciences
Biology and Medical
Explore Ancient Dinosaur Keratin Proteins
Back
Top