Paleo News #135 • Evidence of possible proteins, chromossomes and DNA markers on cartilage cells (condrocytes) from Hypacrosaurus, a #Dinosaur from the #Cretaceous were described !! What is even more amazing is these "cells" were positively marked for DNA using DAPI!😱 What a discovery! Quoting from the abstract: "A histological ground-section from a duck-billed dinosaur nestling (Hypacrosaurus stebingeri) revealed microstructures morphologically consistent with nuclei and chromosomes in cells within calcified cartilage. We hypothesized that this exceptional cellular preservation extended to the molecular level and had molecular features in common with extant avian cartilage. Histochemical and immunological evidence supports in situ preservation of extracellular matrix components found in extant cartilage, including glycosaminoglycans and collagen type II. Furthermore, isolated Hypacrosaurus chondrocytes react positively with two DNA intercalating stains. Specific DNA staining is only observed inside the isolated cells, suggesting endogenous nuclear material survived fossilization. Our data support the hypothesis that calcified cartilage is preserved at the molecular level in this Mesozoic material, and suggest that remnants of once-living chondrocytes, including their DNA, may preserve for millions of years." #paleontology #paleonews #science #evolution #dna #fossils #jurassicpark #dapi #mesozoic #dinosaurs #duckbills #hadrosaurs #hypacrosaurus
