Thought to be impossible, but now proved not to be, scientists have extracted Tyrannosaurus Rex protein from 68 million year old bones. The process of protein changing into minerals after the death of an animal was thought to be complete after one million years, but now we know better.
The protein removed from the T-Rex bone was found to be structurally similar to that of chickens. This provides further evidence to the theory that birds are evolutionary linked to dinosaurs.
"Most people believe that birds evolved from dinosaurs, but that's based on the 'architecture' of the bones... This finding allows us the ability to say that they really are related because their sequences are related." (Science Daily)Because the proteins of both the T-rex and chickens are so similar, it also suggests that T-rex meat would taste like chicken. Mmm, roast T-rex...
Sources: BBC, Science Daily, The Telegraph, New York Times
