Molecular composition and ultrastructure of Jurassic paravian feathers.
(2015) In Scientific Reports 5.- Abstract
- Feathers are amongst the most complex epidermal structures known, and they have a well-documented evolutionary trajectory across non-avian dinosaurs and basal birds. Moreover, melanosome-like microbodies preserved in association with fossil plumage have been used to reconstruct original colour, behaviour and physiology. However, these putative ancient melanosomes might alternatively represent microorganismal residues, a conflicting interpretation compounded by a lack of unambiguous chemical data. We therefore used sensitive molecular imaging, supported by multiple independent analytical tests, to demonstrate that the filamentous epidermal appendages in a new specimen of the Jurassic paravian Anchiornis comprise remnant eumelanosomes and... (More)
- Feathers are amongst the most complex epidermal structures known, and they have a well-documented evolutionary trajectory across non-avian dinosaurs and basal birds. Moreover, melanosome-like microbodies preserved in association with fossil plumage have been used to reconstruct original colour, behaviour and physiology. However, these putative ancient melanosomes might alternatively represent microorganismal residues, a conflicting interpretation compounded by a lack of unambiguous chemical data. We therefore used sensitive molecular imaging, supported by multiple independent analytical tests, to demonstrate that the filamentous epidermal appendages in a new specimen of the Jurassic paravian Anchiornis comprise remnant eumelanosomes and fibril-like microstructures, preserved as endogenous eumelanin and authigenic calcium phosphate. These results provide novel insights into the early evolution of feathers at the sub-cellular level, and unequivocally determine that melanosomes can be preserved in fossil feathers. (Less)
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https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/7834357
- author
- organization
- publishing date
- 2015
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Scientific Reports
- volume
- 5
- article number
- 13520
- publisher
- Nature Publishing Group
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000360147200001
- pmid:26311035
- scopus:84940558926
- pmid:26311035
- ISSN
- 2045-2322
- DOI
- 10.1038/srep13520
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Chemical Physics (S) (011001060), Lithosphere and Biosphere Science (011006002), Max-laboratory (011012005), Functional Zoology (432112239)
- id
- c4b1d7ae-2332-4f63-8dbf-c18d481314d7 (old id 7834357)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 13:11:37
- date last changed
- 2022-04-06 03:12:31
@article{c4b1d7ae-2332-4f63-8dbf-c18d481314d7, abstract = {{Feathers are amongst the most complex epidermal structures known, and they have a well-documented evolutionary trajectory across non-avian dinosaurs and basal birds. Moreover, melanosome-like microbodies preserved in association with fossil plumage have been used to reconstruct original colour, behaviour and physiology. However, these putative ancient melanosomes might alternatively represent microorganismal residues, a conflicting interpretation compounded by a lack of unambiguous chemical data. We therefore used sensitive molecular imaging, supported by multiple independent analytical tests, to demonstrate that the filamentous epidermal appendages in a new specimen of the Jurassic paravian Anchiornis comprise remnant eumelanosomes and fibril-like microstructures, preserved as endogenous eumelanin and authigenic calcium phosphate. These results provide novel insights into the early evolution of feathers at the sub-cellular level, and unequivocally determine that melanosomes can be preserved in fossil feathers.}}, author = {{Lindgren, Johan and Sjövall, Peter and Carney, Ryan M and Cincotta, Aude and Uvdal, Per and Hutcheson, Steven W and Gustafsson, Ola and Lefèvre, Ulysse and Escuillié, François and Heimdal, Jimmy and Engdahl, Anders and Gren, Johan and Kear, Benjamin P and Wakamatsu, Kazumasa and Yans, Johan and Godefroit, Pascal}}, issn = {{2045-2322}}, language = {{eng}}, publisher = {{Nature Publishing Group}}, series = {{Scientific Reports}}, title = {{Molecular composition and ultrastructure of Jurassic paravian feathers.}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep13520}}, doi = {{10.1038/srep13520}}, volume = {{5}}, year = {{2015}}, }