In remains of dinosaur found material chromosomes

Chinese researchers have discovered in the preserved dinosaur cartel from the early Cell Cell Cells with the residues of organic molecules and chromatin – the material that makes up the basis of chromosomes. Description Nakhodka Posted in Communications Biology magazine.

The remains of Caudipteryx – inhabited near the shallow lakes of a predatory dinosaur size with Peacock – 125 million years have found in the province of Liaoning in the north-west of China. Susta from the eruption of the volcano helped the remains could be fed up to the cellular level. Scientists from the Institute of Paleontology of Vertebrates and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences managed to extract part of the articular cartilage from the right knee of a dinosaur and decalciting it. After that, the sample was studied using various methods of microscopy and chemical analysis.

Scientists have found that after the death of Caudipteryix, all cells in cartilage mineralized by savings – which allowed them so well to preserve. In addition, the researchers found out the presence in the sample of two types of cells – healthy and dying.

Paleontologists isolated several chondrocytes – the main cells of the cartilage tissue and marked them with hematoxylin and eosin – dyes binding to cellular cores. One cage was painted in a dark blue color. This suggests that the initial biomolecules and chromatin chains are preserved – the foundations of chromosomes consisting of DNA and proteins. At the same time, to determine at what stage of mitosis there are chains, it is impossible – that it does not allow to talk about them as chromosomes. However, in order to find out whether DNA DNA preserved, much more accurate analysis methods are needed, researchers recognize.

/Media reports.