“It is believed that the ancestors of dinosaurs were cold-blooded (their body temperature varies with that of their environment , Ed) while their descendants, the birds are warm-blooded (the temperature is constant, like that of humans, Ed). This means that over time, their characteristics have changed “ says Sergio Bertazzo of Imperial College London.
Determine when the dinosaur started to have warm blood
And the scientist, co-author of the study published Tuesday in Nature Communications , may soon get answers about the “when” the “how” and “why” of this evolution of dinosaurs. Indeed, the recent discovery of what appears to be red blood cells and collagen fibers in bones of dinosaurs, yet very deteriorated, could help to decode the “mystery of hot blood.”
And researcher specify: “If we can analyze blood cells many dinosaurs, we can determine when the dinosaurs began to have hot blood” . Especially since, according to the expert, this discovery is also “further proof that the organic material can survive for several years, even under exceptionally well-preserved fossils.”
To study the physiology and metabolism of extinct animals
So, “the probability of finding organic material (cells and tissues) is much higher that we thought “, also welcomes Sergio Bertazzo. So researchers could more easily study the physiology and metabolism of animals long gone thanks to the preservation of proteins on several geological periods, that is to say millions of years.
This could also show how different groups are linked to each other. However, tempers already, the researcher “many more research is needed before we know whether or not it will be possible one day to discover dinosaurs.”
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