Dinosaur Feathers Found in Amber Reinforce Evolution Theories

[Ian David]

Source: The Atlantic

Dinosaur and bird feathers preserved in amber from a Late Cretaceous site in Canada reveal new insights into the structure, function, and color of animals that date back to about 78 million years ago.

Researchers led by University of Alberta paleontologist Ryan McKellar say these specimens represent distinct stages of feather evolution, from early-stage, single filament protofeathers to much more complex structures associated with modern diving birds. After analyzing the preserved pigment cells, the authors add that these feathered creatures may have also had a range of transparent, mottled, and diffused colors, similar to birds today. They can't determine which feathers belonged to birds or dinosaurs yet, but they did observe filament structures that are similar to those seen in other non-avian dinosaur fossils. Their findings appear in the current issue of the journal Science.

<snip>

How significant is this discovery?

This discovery is a pretty significant find. It supports a model for the evolution of feathers that has previously relied on compression fossils that are difficult to interpret and have been hotly debated.]

Also, the amber-entombed feathers show that some of the most primitive feather types, also known as protofeathers, were still around just before the dinosaurs went extinct. They existed alongside feathers that are nearly identical to those of modern birds. Given what we know about the animals that were alive in the area at the time, it is reasonable to suggest that the protofeather-like specimens are attributable to dinosaurs and are the first specimens of this type of feather to be recovered from amber.

Read more: http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/dinosaur-feathers-found-in-amber-reinforce-evolution-theories/245094/

---

See also:

Fossilized Feathers
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/333/6049/1590

[Evasporque]

1. They are 5200 years old.....nt

[24601]

14. Are you sure about the time? That would put dinosaurs on the earth

at the same time as humans.

[yardwork]

16. That's correct according to conservapedia.

[Faygo Kid]

17. You didn't know?

You need to read a real scientific summary, like this, and get edumacated like Rick Perry: http://www.conservapedia.com/Dinosaur

Just like Dr. Rush Limbaugh on global warming. Infallible.

[24601]

18. Just expected that the folks on DU wouldn't fall for it. Guess you'll

never go broke underestimating intelligence.

[progressoid]

26. I just wasted 5 minutes on conservapedia.

I'm dumbfounded.

[snooper2]

28. It's great entertainment ROFL

Some evolutionary scientists assert that if human bones aren’t found with dinosaur bones, then dinosaurs and man didn’t live together.<41><42> Creation scientists point out that this is a false assumption; if human bones aren’t found buried with dinosaur bones, it simply means they weren't buried together.<41>

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[semillama]

29. That's just one of the unwritten rules of DU

Anytime any scientific find is posted that deals with something that happened over 6,000 years ago, one of the first few posts will be a snarky reply commenting on young earth creationists. I'm not sure I've seen one of these posts without it. It's probably the most worn-out in-joke outside the Lounge on DU, but it will never die.

[Kingofalldems]

2. It's a trick by satan

[hvn_nbr_2]

6. No, wait! God put them there to test your faith.

And if politicians don't believe it, he's going to send a hurricane to six neighboring states.

[DavidDvorkin]

22. And to demonstrate that he's a devious prick.

[Downtown Hound]

3. What T-Rex might have really looked like:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mathieus/how-t-rex-really-looked-like-8q4

Damn you Hollywood, for giving me such a distorted view. LOL. I kind of like this new, colorful T-Rex. It's like T-Rex is going to the gay pride parade.

[Fire Walk With Me]

11. T-Rex often flew into a rage if ever called "chicken".

Bk-awk!

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. Oh yeah, I guess T-Rex sometimes had feathers...

(sorry, couldn't help it)

[BadGimp]

21. I knew it

eom

[boppers]

24. *snortwaffle*

:rofl:

[Fire Walk With Me]

30. ...

:applause:

[Donnachaidh]

15. T rex looked like this

[Demeter]

4. This is so cool

Sometimes, I watch the noisy, busy bird feeder, and think: "Look at all those cute little colorful singing dinosaurs!"

And the fact that we may have developed our musical needs and abilities thanks to dinosaurs...

[Wait Wut]

5. Whatever.

I won't get a piece of amber with a feather in it, either. I've been asking for a piece of amber with a bug for DECADES and haven't gotten one.

The world hates me. I do NOT accept the "...it's really, really expensive" crap. :cry:

Seriously, though...this is way cool. Is there a pic at the link? I can't get to it until I get home. And, are the "protofeathers" from protodrakes? Something else I never got that was promised to me. :cry:

[MineralMan]

7. Buy your own. Whatever your budget

you can find an insect in genuine amber to suit.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/items/insect%20amber?_dmd=1&_sop=12&rvr_id=265199979211&clk_rvr_id=265199979211&MT_ID=70&crlp=4138322772_9404&tt_encode=raw&geo_id=1&keyword=insect+amber&adgroup_id=596790822

It's just no big deal. If you don't like ebay, just Google Insect Amber and you'll find other sellers. Common stuff.

Get one.

[Wait Wut]

8. Thanks for the link.

I never thought of ebay. I have a really hard time spending money on myself, but maybe I can drop some hints. Well...more hints.

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

23. You should be able to find insects in reconstituted Amber/Copal

Basically, they take the shavings and bits from Amber that was left over from making jewelery and remelt it and add new bugs to it.

Remelting it is probably way too simple a description of what they do to it, but you get the idea.


If there is a gem and mineral show that goes to your town, you ought to be able to find some there.

[aquart]

9. This is so cool. THANK YOU!

[LibertyLover]

10. Oh how cool!

My husband and I were watching, just the other night on the Science Channel, a new series on dinosaurs, Dinosaur Revolution. In their reconstructions, the show has opted to show dinosaurs that are variegated in color and, of course, feathered. This is a fascinating find. I wonder if KFC will become KFD - Kentucky Fried Dinosaur?

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

19. I saw that too and thought it was great

I loved how the Devil Frog got splatted like in the old Frogger game.

[LibertyLover]

32. My gosh, that devil frog

It was enough to give me nightmares. I did like that it got splatted.

[bongbong]

12. Teabaggers response to this

"Of course the dinosaurs had feathers! I saw it on the TV documentary called 'The Flintstones'!"

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

20. The sad part is that what you wrote is true

Ages ago there was a secretary at my dad's office that actually believed that humans and dinos lived side by side thanks to that cartoon.

She didn't last long there. My dad's firm was a small place filled with progressive liberal hippie-loving lawyers that frequently defended weed dealers and users.

[lbrtbell]

25. Oh...my...God.

The stupidity of conservatives truly does know no bounds.

[Odin2005]

27. Whoever wrote that headline is a moron.

The Creationist dumb-asses will just look at the headline (ignoring the rest because there are too many big words) and it will become a new talking point.

[bvar22]

31. After observing our flock of Free Range Chickens,

I have NO doubt that these birds are direct decedents of the Velociraptor.
They are deadly, carnivorous predators that will swarm attack anything that moves,
and is small enough for them to swallow.
They even hunt cooperatively by fanning out and sweeping a field.


Fascinating animals.
They are smarter and more social than we had anticipated.
We started our flock in 2007, and now have 21 birds.
They have become a much appreciated source of entertainment and education.

[Old Troop]

33. All kidding aside, this is extraordinary!

I really hope they can extract preserved DNA from the specimens.

[Gman]

34. Ok, but did they get any dinosaur DNA

that they can embed in a lizard egg or something?