SCIENTISTS are one step closer to cloning dinosaurs after the discovering the remains of a Tyrannosaurus rex that was pregnant when it died.
While dinosaur bones do contain some DNA, the bone known as the medullary bone that grows in female dinosaurs during pregnancy will contain a lot more DNA.
Lindsay Zanno, assistant research professor of biological sciences at North Carolina State University, said that it “is possible” that the dinosaur and its egg contains the necessary DNA – which is the building blocks for life – to take scientists a step closer to reintroducing dinosaurs to the world.
Ms Zanno told Discovery News: “We have some evidence that fragments of DNA may be preserved in dinosaur fossils, but this remains to be tested further.”
Scientists are familiar with the medullary bone as it is also present in the descendants of dinosaurs such as chickens and female reptiles when they are about to give birth.
GETTY
The T Rex live 68 million years ago
“The outcome is that birds do not have to pull calcium from the main part of their bones in order to shell eggs, weakening their bones the way crocodiles do.
“Medullary bone is thus present just before and during egg laying, but is entirely gone after the female has finished laying eggs.”
GETTY
Scientists managed to grow a chicken with dinosaur legs
The news that scientists have found some key DNA comes shortly after it was announced that experts from the University of Chile managed to grow dinosaur legs on a chicken.
Experts modified the genes in a chicken embryo to develop the dinosaur-esque fibulas in their lower legs.
Walking with dinosaurs at the 02 London
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.