Scientists Found Cancer in a Dinosaur – And It Might Help Save Human Lives
At first glance, dinosaur fossils and modern cancer research may seem worlds apart.
But a new study suggests that soft tissue preserved for millions of years inside ancient bones could offer valuable insights into how cancer works – and how we might treat it today.
Researchers from the UK and Romania examined the fossilized remains of a Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus dinosaur, a small, cow-sized 'marsh lizard' that lived around 66–70 million years ago in what is now Romania.
Using high-powered microscopy, the team discovered structures resembling red blood cells (or erythrocytes), linked to a tumor in the dinosaur's jaw, which a previous study discovered.
It's a discovery that suggests small flecks of soft tissue may be preserved in fossils more often than we thought – and that means there's much more we can figure out about these ancient creatures, including any diseases they had.
"Unlike skeletal structures alone, soft tissues contain proteins that provide molecular information that can reveal the underlying biological mechanisms of disease," says oncologist Justin Stebbing, from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK.
"Our research, using relatively underused methods, invites further exploration that could hold the key to future discoveries that could benefit humans."
For example, finding fragments of soft dinosaur tissue like those described here could prove to be crucial in understanding cancer mechanisms and how they've evolved, the researchers suggest.
Large animals like whales and elephants have evolved ways of protecting themselves against cancer, and it's possible that dinosaurs could have, too.
Understanding these ancient biological adaptations might one day inform new approaches to cancer prevention or treatment in humans.
Careful preservation of these samples is key, however: we can assume that future scientific advances will be made in analysis equipment, but those upgrades won't be as significant without any dinosaur tissue to study.
"Dinosaurs, as long-lived, large-bodied organisms, present a compelling case for investigating how species managed cancer susceptibility and resistance over millions of years," says Stebbing.
"It is crucial that long-term fossil conservation efforts are coordinated to ensure that future researchers have access to specimens suitable for cutting-edge molecular investigations."
The dinosaur that was the focus of this study had an ameloblastoma tumor, a tumor type still found in humans today.
That the dinosaurs roamed Earth for millions of years means the potential is there to see how cancer may have changed over that time – and how the afflicted species may have adapted.
And while it may seem implausible that anything organic could survive for so long, it is possible – as this new study shows – so we can see how genetics, biology, and environmental pressures helped to cause cancer in the Late Cretaceous.
"Proteins, particularly those found in calcified tissues like bone, are more stable than DNA and are less susceptible to degradation and contamination," says Stebbing.
"This makes them ideal candidates for studying ancient diseases, including cancer, in paleontological specimens."
The research has been published in Biology.
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3 days ago
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Scientists Found Cancer in a Dinosaur – And It Might Help Save Human Lives
At first glance, dinosaur fossils and modern cancer research may seem worlds apart. But a new study suggests that soft tissue preserved for millions of years inside ancient bones could offer valuable insights into how cancer works – and how we might treat it today. Researchers from the UK and Romania examined the fossilized remains of a Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus dinosaur, a small, cow-sized 'marsh lizard' that lived around 66–70 million years ago in what is now Romania. Using high-powered microscopy, the team discovered structures resembling red blood cells (or erythrocytes), linked to a tumor in the dinosaur's jaw, which a previous study discovered. It's a discovery that suggests small flecks of soft tissue may be preserved in fossils more often than we thought – and that means there's much more we can figure out about these ancient creatures, including any diseases they had. "Unlike skeletal structures alone, soft tissues contain proteins that provide molecular information that can reveal the underlying biological mechanisms of disease," says oncologist Justin Stebbing, from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. "Our research, using relatively underused methods, invites further exploration that could hold the key to future discoveries that could benefit humans." For example, finding fragments of soft dinosaur tissue like those described here could prove to be crucial in understanding cancer mechanisms and how they've evolved, the researchers suggest. Large animals like whales and elephants have evolved ways of protecting themselves against cancer, and it's possible that dinosaurs could have, too. Understanding these ancient biological adaptations might one day inform new approaches to cancer prevention or treatment in humans. Careful preservation of these samples is key, however: we can assume that future scientific advances will be made in analysis equipment, but those upgrades won't be as significant without any dinosaur tissue to study. "Dinosaurs, as long-lived, large-bodied organisms, present a compelling case for investigating how species managed cancer susceptibility and resistance over millions of years," says Stebbing. "It is crucial that long-term fossil conservation efforts are coordinated to ensure that future researchers have access to specimens suitable for cutting-edge molecular investigations." The dinosaur that was the focus of this study had an ameloblastoma tumor, a tumor type still found in humans today. That the dinosaurs roamed Earth for millions of years means the potential is there to see how cancer may have changed over that time – and how the afflicted species may have adapted. And while it may seem implausible that anything organic could survive for so long, it is possible – as this new study shows – so we can see how genetics, biology, and environmental pressures helped to cause cancer in the Late Cretaceous. "Proteins, particularly those found in calcified tissues like bone, are more stable than DNA and are less susceptible to degradation and contamination," says Stebbing. "This makes them ideal candidates for studying ancient diseases, including cancer, in paleontological specimens." The research has been published in Biology. Here's Why Rational People Skip Vaccines Even When They Trust Science Softgel Capsules Draw Concerns Over Toxic Shells. Here's What to Know. Your Breathing Pattern Is as Unique as a Fingerprint, Study Finds
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The surprisingly relatable reason why some birds get cranky
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In each territory, they played recordings of traffic noise and warblers singing, which simulated an intrusion. 'Each bird was tested once with just the warbler speaker being active, and once with the warbler speaker plus the [car] noise speaker active,' says Çağlar Akçay, a behavioral ecologist at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge and study author. When exposed to the sounds of encroaching birds and car noise playing in the background, the warblers living close to the road responded more aggressively than when there was no noise playing. They also responded more aggressively to noise compared to their 'rural' counterparts—getting closer to the speakers and sometimes even attacking them. Mike Webster, an ornithologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology who was not involved in the research, says the study is 'pretty convincing' and offers a clear look at how a single environmental change can influence behavior. '[It] really kind of helps us focus in on what the causes of the differences in behavior might be,' he says. Generally, animals that live in cities tend to be bolder and more aggressive—both characteristics that enable them to survive in such complex habitat. 'Individuals that can't deal with constant disturbance, such as noise, people, cars, etc. would be unlikely to thrive in an urban habitat,' says Hyman. Some birds may become more aggressive because cities are rich in food sources—and so there's strong competition to establish a foothold. 'Only the most aggressive males can manage to hold a territory in this place where lots and lots of birds would like to have a territory,' says Hyman. But food scarcity may also make some urban species more aggressive, and so 'birds have to fight an awful lot in order to maintain a large enough territory to get the resources that they need.' 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Dinosaurs Had Cancer, Too, According to a Staggering New Study
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Over the years, scientists have found examples of cancerous tumors within the fossilized bones of ancient dinosaurs. A new study analyzes the fossil of the duck-billed hadrosaurid Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus and found proteins that help pinpoint molecular marks of disease in ancient species. This animal's particular cancer—a benign tumor of the jaw called ameloblastoma—also impacts humans, so scientists are exploring whether understanding the disease in its ancient context could lead to novel therapies in our current epoch. Whether depicted in textbooks or Hollywood films, dinosaurs are often portrayed as powerful beings with sharp jaws, thick hides, and indomitable strength. But just like us, it turns out, dinosaurs were susceptible to a variety of illnesses, diseases, and cancers. Over the years, scientists have actually discovered cancerous tumors clinging to fossilized bone, giving us insight into the ancient life of this deadly malady. In 2016, a team of U.S. and Romanian scientists announced the discovery of a tumorous fossil belonging to a 70-million-year-old duck-billed hadrosaurid (Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus) that once roamed the Hateg Basin in present-day Romania. Finding tumors along with dinosaur fossils is relatively rare, and cancer specialists at Imperial College London and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in the U.K. had different interests in this particular specimen. 'We wanted to see if this tumor in the dinosaur could give us any information about any parallel with human cancers,' Biancastella Cereser, a co-author of the study from Imperial College London, told The Independent, 'because the tumor that this dinosaur had was an ameloblastoma, a benign tumor in the jaw, which humans have as well.' The results of their inquiry, published in the journal Biology, found that using advanced techniques like scanning electron microscopy (SEM) could recover structures resembling red blood cells, proving that soft tissues and cellular components are more common in fossils than previously believed. And before any Jurassic Park fans ask, that does not include DNA. 'Jurassic Park isn't right, because what they said is dinosaur DNA could be recovered and cloned to resurrect dinosaurs, but we can't get DNA out of this because it's broken down by weathering and time,' Justin Stebbing from ARU told The Independent. Luckily, proteins found in calcified tissues are much more stable, and provide the perfect opportunity for studying the ancient history of cancers that inflict us today. By analyzing how cancers impacted extinct species, the authors hypothesize that they might be able to uncover new methods of cancer suppression. 'Dinosaurs, as long-lived, large-bodied organisms, present a compelling case for investigating how species managed cancer susceptibility and resistance over millions of years,' the authors wrote. 'The identification of tumors, such as the ameloblastoma in Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, suggests that cancer was not an anomaly but a recurring biological challenge in prehistoric ecosystems.' The researchers are also stressing the importance of preserving specimens for molecular investigations like this. They hope that the information hidden in the fossils of these long-dead animals can now help protect the lifeforms that inherited the planet these dinos once called home. 'Our research, using relatively underused methods, invites further exploration that could hold the key to future discoveries that could benefit humans,' Stebbing said in a press statement. 'It is crucial that long-term fossil conservation efforts are co-ordinated to ensure that future researchers have access to specimens suitable for cutting-edge molecular investigations.' You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
