Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Fossilized Mosquito Has Blood-filled Abdomen

Posted by Soulskill on from the life-will-find-a-way dept.

ananyo writes "Jurassic Park's iconic image of a fossilized blood-filled mosquito was thought to be fiction — until now. For the first time, researchers have identified a fossil of a female mosquito with traces of blood in its engorged abdomen. The fossilized mosquito contains molecules that provide strong evidence of blood-feeding among ancient insects back to 46 million years ago (paper abstract). The insect was found not in amber, as depicted in Jurassic Park, but in shale sediments from Montana. After 46 million years, however, any DNA would be long degraded."

3 of 86 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Challenge the impossible... by flimflammer · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just make sure you don't pick those frogs that can switch genders.

  2. Re:Challenge the impossible... by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's what they used to say about Neandertal DNA.

    I'm hoping that the mosquito bit a pig. Then we could all be dining really soon . . . on . . . Jurassic Pork!

    We already have enough Neandertaler still walking the face of the planet today . . .

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  3. Re:Challenge the impossible... by TWiTfan · · Score: 4, Funny

    Welcome to Eocene Parkl! Enjoy our vaguely badger and rodent-looking things!

    --
    The cow says "Moo." The dog says "Woof." The Timothy says "Thanks, valued customer. We appreciate your input."