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Molecular composition and ultrastructure of Jurassic paravian feathers.

Lindgren, Johan LU ; Sjövall, Peter ; Carney, Ryan M ; Cincotta, Aude ; Uvdal, Per LU ; Hutcheson, Steven W ; Gustafsson, Ola LU ; Lefèvre, Ulysse ; Escuillié, François and Heimdal, Jimmy LU , et al. (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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organization
publishing date
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}},
}