Color Clues in Dino Fossils

Researchers confirm that some microscopic imprints in fossilized dinosaur feathers are pockets of melanin.

| 2 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
2:00
Share

A. huxleyi fossilROYAL BELGIAN INSTITUTE OF NATURAL SCIENCES, THIERRY HUBINScientists have debated for years whether melanin, a dark pigment responsible for black and brown coloration in many organisms, could survive fossilization. Now, molecular analyses confirm that some imprints in fossilized dinosaur feathers are caused by the pigment, according to a study published last week (August 27) in Scientific Reports.

Tiny imprints in the feathers of fossilized dinosaurs have alternately been attributed to both melanosomes—pockets of melanin—and bacteria. Previous studies suggested that the imprints discovered in some fossils were melanosomes based on their structure and organization compared to those in feathers of modern-day birds. However, this research relied primarily on physical similarity rather than chemical confirmation.

To combat this ambiguity, an international team of paleontologists studied a fossil specimen of Anchiornis huxleyi from northeastern China—an extensively feathered avian more primitive than Archaeopteryx. The researchers scraped feather samples from the rock with scalpels and hand-saws, then analyzed the samples using both time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and infrared reflectance spectroscopy. According to their results, the molecular content of the fossilized feathers most closely matched that of ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Keywords

Meet the Author

  • Karen Zusi

    This person does not yet have a bio.
Share
3D illustration of a gold lipid nanoparticle with pink nucleic acid inside of it. Purple and teal spikes stick out from the lipid bilayer representing polyethylene glycol.
February 2025, Issue 1

A Nanoparticle Delivery System for Gene Therapy

A reimagined lipid vehicle for nucleic acids could overcome the limitations of current vectors.

View this Issue
Enhancing Therapeutic Antibody Discovery with Cross-Platform Workflows

Enhancing Therapeutic Antibody Discovery with Cross-Platform Workflows

sartorius logo
Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Lonza
An illustration of animal and tree silhouettes.

From Water Bears to Grizzly Bears: Unusual Animal Models

Taconic Biosciences
Sex Differences in Neurological Research

Sex Differences in Neurological Research

bit.bio logo

Products

Photo of a researcher overseeing large scale production processes in a laboratory.

Scaling Lentiviral Vector Manufacturing for Optimal Productivity

Thermo Fisher Logo
Discover a serum-free way to produce dendritic cells and macrophages for cell therapy applications.

Optimizing In Vitro Production of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells and Macrophages

Thermo Fisher Logo
Collage-style urban graphic of wastewater surveillance and treatment

Putting Pathogens to the Test with Wastewater Surveillance

An illustration of an mRNA molecule in front of a multicolored background.

Generating High-Quality mRNA for In Vivo Delivery with Lipid Nanoparticles

Thermo Fisher Logo