Dinosaur Confusion

[flint]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060315/ap_ ... d_dinosaur

[David George]

There is a problem about the evolution of birds.Some say that they evolved in the Triassic period from the reptile Protoavis.Some say from archaeopteryx.Some say in the cretaceous period and still others say from reptiles and not dinosaurs.Tell which one you support and also the reasons.

[David George]

Having lived some 75 million years ago, the two-legged dinosaur was twice the size of related species found in Canada and the northern United States, say fossil experts at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

The find shows that a group of dinosaurs called oviraptors roamed much farther south than previously thought, they add.

Oviraptors had simple feathers, winglike arms, powerful legs, long claws, and powerful, toothless beaks for shearing through food.

Researchers made the find in a remote, mountainous region in the southwestern U.S. that's fast gaining a reputation as an untapped "dinosaur graveyard" full of unusual species.

Only fragments of the animal were discovered—a fearsomely clawed hand and foot. But the dinosaur probably stood seven feet (two meters) tall and ran as fast as an ostrich, according to paleontologists Lindsay Zanno and Scott Sampson.

Named Hagryphus giganteus ("giant four-footed, birdlike god of the western desert"), the new species is described in the current issue of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

here is a link for further information
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... osaur.html

[AstusAleator]

Try eating that for Thanksgiving...

[AstusAleator]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... d=89942780

So here's a question to our micro-bio folks. Do collagen-protein sequences actually tell us much as far as genetic heritage?

[MrMistery]

Sure they do Astus. That is molecular systematics. Generally we use molecular systematics by analyzing how rRNA or chaperone sequences diverged. However, in this case that was not possible, so the scientists used the protein at hand - collagen - to analyze changes between various taxonomic groups. This kind of taxonomic method works like this: you analyze six organisms, and at a certain position one has a cysteine residue, while the other five have a lysine residue, for example. It's safe to say that the one with the cysteine diverged from the others very early. In theory it can be used for almost any protein.

[AstusAleator]

Thanks!
Since I'm more of a field-systematics biologist, it's nice to know I have micro-bio buddies that can help me out in my time of need.

[MrMistery]

this is more molecular biology. Microbiology deals with microorganisms

[MichaelXY]

this is more molecular biology. Microbiology deals with microorganisms

Ah heck, micro, molecular, they are both just damn small to us macro candela receptors