Dinosaur fossils may provide crucial insights for cancer research.
Dinosaur Fossils may Provide Clues to New Cancer Discoveries
A novel study, published in the journal Biology, suggests that ancient dinosaur fossils, particularly their soft tissues, could potentially hold the key to new cancer discoveries. Scientists from Anglia Ruskin University and Imperial College London have used advanced techniques to analyze preserved soft tissues in fossils of Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, a plant-eating dinosaur that lived approximately 66-70 million years ago in Romania.
The researchers employed innovative paleoproteomic techniques and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to identify red blood cell-like structures within the fossilized bones of the dinosaur. This discovery suggests that soft tissues can survive over extended periods, far more frequently than previously believed, opening up new avenues for studying ancient diseases, including cancer.
The study, specifically, pinpoints the detection of a benign jaw tumor (ameloblastoma) in the dinosaur fossil, underscoring the potential similarities between ancient and modern cancers. By comparing these ancient tumors with current human cancers, researchers aim to gain insights into the molecular foundation of cancer, potentially influencing future treatments.
The importance of preserving fossilized soft tissues for future research cannot be overstated. Non-destructive imaging and careful preservation methods are now considered crucial for ensuring that future scientists have access to well-preserved samples for ongoing research.
The findings add impetus to the hypothesis that studying dinosaur fossils, as long-lived, large-bodied organisms, could aid in understanding how species managed cancer susceptibility and resistance over millions of years. Proteins, particularly those found in calcified tissues, offer a promising avenue for investigating ancient diseases, including cancer, in paleontological specimens.
In essence, the study published in Biology underscores the potential of analyzing soft tissues in dinosaur fossils using modern techniques to unlock new insights into cancer biology and may inform new approaches to cancer treatment in humans.
[For readers interested in the full, open-access paper, it can be accessed here: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/4/370]
- The novel study published in the journal Biology focuses on researching soft tissues in dinosaur fossils, particularly the Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, to potentially discover new insights about cancer.
- By employing advanced techniques such as paleoproteomics and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), researchers detected red blood cell-like structures within the dinosaur's fossilized bones, implying soft tissues might survive for longer than previously thought.
- The discovery of a benign jaw tumor (ameloblastoma) in the dinosaur fossil suggests a possible similarity between ancient and modern cancers, leading scientists to analyze these ancient tumors in comparison to human cancers for gaining insights into the molecular foundation of cancer.
- Preserving fossilized soft tissues for future health-and-wellness and medical-conditions research is crucial, as careful preservation methods and non-destructive imaging are essential for maintaining well-preserved samples for ongoing investigations into ancient diseases like cancer.
