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Soft Tissue Discovered In T-Rex Bone

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the tastes-like-ostrich dept.

kubla2000 writes, "Paleontologists have discovered soft tissue inside the fossilized thigh bone of a T-Rex. The tissue included blood vessels, bone cells, and perhaps even blood cells." From the article: "When paleontologists find fossilized dinosaur bones during a dig, they usually do everything in their power to protect them, using tools like toothbrushes to carefully unearth the bones without inflicting any damage. However, when scientists found a massive Tyrannosaurus rex thigh bone in a remote region of Montana a few months ago, they were forced to break the bone in two in order to fit it into the transport helicopter. This act of necessity revealed a startling surprise: soft tissue that had seemingly resisted fossilization still existed inside the bone. This tissue... was so well preserved that it was still stretchy and flexible."

3 of 345 comments (clear)

  1. DNA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Since I have first post (i think) .. I am going to ask .. was DNA preserved?
    And the highly original question nobody else I'm sure would have thought to ask..

    Can we create Jurassic park?

  2. Well, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    I, for one, welcome our new Cretaceous overlords.

  3. Why you gotta bring up old shit? by nickmo · · Score: 0, Redundant

    this was posted in March of 2005 on the BBC news page

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4379577. stm