Uncovering Ancient Secrets: Dinosaurs Hold Clues to Cancer Discoveries

A groundbreaking study has discovered that dinosaurs may hold the key to new cancer discoveries. Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Imperial College London have used advanced paleoproteomic techniques to analyze dinosaur fossils, revealing previously unknown secrets about the evolution of diseases in ancient creatures.

The researchers analyzed a fossilized bone of a Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, a duck-billed plant-eater that lived between 66-70 million years ago. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), they identified low-density structures resembling red blood cells in the fossilized bone. This finding raises the possibility that soft tissue and cellular components are more commonly preserved in ancient remains than previously thought.

By identifying preserved proteins and biomarkers, scientists believe they can gain insights into the diseases that affected prehistoric creatures, including cancer. This has significant implications for future treatments for humans. The authors of the study highlight the importance of prioritizing the collection and preservation of fossilized soft tissue, rather than just dinosaur skeletons, as future advancements in molecular techniques will enable deeper insights into disease evolution.

A previous study had already identified evidence of cancer in Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, indicating its deep evolutionary roots. Senior author Justin Stebbing, Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University, emphasized the significance of dinosaurs in understanding how species managed cancer susceptibility and resistance over millions of years.

“Dinosaurs, as long-lived, large-bodied organisms, present a compelling case for investigating how species managed cancer susceptibility and resistance over millions of years,” said Stebbing. “Proteins, particularly those found in calcified tissues like bone, are more stable than DNA and are less susceptible to degradation and contamination. This makes them ideal candidates for studying ancient diseases, including cancer, in paleontological specimens.”

The research invites further exploration that could hold the key to future discoveries that could benefit humans. However, 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 discovery of a nearly complete fossil of what looked like a lizard or salamander in Scotland in 1984 has turned out to be a significant find. The creature, called Westlothiana lizziae, is one of the earliest examples of a four-legged animal that had evolved from living underwater to dwelling on earth. It and other stem tetrapods like it are common ancestors of the amphibians, birds, reptiles, and mammals that exist today, including humans.

Despite its significance, researchers had never determined an accurate age of the fossil. However, thanks to new research out of The University of Texas at Austin, scientists now know that the Westlothiana lizziae, along with similar salamander-like creatures from the same spot in Scotland, are potentially 14 million years older than previously thought.

The new age – dating back to 346 million years ago – adds to the significance of the find because it places the specimens in a mysterious hole in the fossil record called Romer’s Gap. This time period, from 360 to 345 million years ago, is where water-dwelling fish took an evolutionary leap, growing lungs and four legs to become land animals.

The research, published recently in the journal PLOS One, was led by Hector Garza, who just graduated with his doctoral degree from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the UT Jackson School of Geosciences. Garza used a geochemical technique called radiometric dating to determine the age of the fossils. This technique involves using zircon crystals to date rocks, but not all rock types are amenable to this type of analysis.

The site in Scotland where the fossils were discovered was near ancient volcanoes whose lava flows had long hardened into basalt rock, where zircons do not typically form. Fellow scientists warned Garza that chemically dating the rocks might be fruitless. However, he got lucky and was able to extract zircons from the rock surrounding six of the fossils.

Garza X-rayed 11 of the rock samples at the Jackson School and conducted uranium-lead laser dating on the zircons at the University of Houston to determine their oldest possible age. Before Garza’s gamble, scientists had figured the fossils were as old as similar fossils from around the world – about 331 million years old.

The more accurate, older maximum age of 346 million years is significant because it places the specimens in Romer’s Gap. This time period is crucial to understanding the timing of the emergence of vertebrates on land and why this transition occurs when it does.

“I can’t overstate the importance of the iconic East Kirkland tetrapods,” said Julia Clarke, professor at the Jackson School and co-author of this paper. “Better constraining the age of these fossils is key to understanding the timing of the emergence of vertebrates on to land. Timing in turn is key to assessing why this transition occurs when it does and what factors in the environment may be linked to this event.”

The site in Scotland where the fossils were found, the East Kirkton Quarry, is a veritable treasure trove of early tetrapod records. Seven stem tetrapod fossils, including the Westlothiana lizziae, have been found there. Hundreds of millions of years ago when these early four-legged creatures roamed, this site was a tropical forest with nearby active volcanoes, a toxic lake, and a diverse plant and animal community.

The National Museum of Scotland provided Garza with bits of rock that surrounded the fossils to use for the sampling. Other study co-authors are Associate Professor Elizabeth Catlos and Michael Brookfield, both of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the Jackson School, and Thomas Lapen, professor and chair of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Houston.

The discovery was made possible by the analysis of three fossil specimens, including an adult skeleton and two juvenile skeletons, all of which showed diagnostic features of the new taxon. The fossils were found in Late Cretaceous rocks on Vancouver Island, Canada, and date back to around 85 million years ago.

Traskasaura sandrae was named after Courtenay, BC, where the original holotype specimen was discovered by Michael and Heather Trask in 1988. The species name honours Sandra Lee O’Keefe, who was a valiant warrior in the fight against breast cancer.

The team of scientists from Canada, Chile, and the United States who identified the fossils believe that Traskasaura’s unique features relate to its hunting style, where it would use its ability to dive upon its prey from above. They also suggest that the three individuals described may represent a single species, although this hypothesis deserves further consideration.

The discovery of Traskasaura sandrae adds to our understanding of the diversity of marine reptiles during the Age of Dinosaurs and highlights the importance of continued research into the fossil record.