Scientists say they have found fossilised red blood cells in a 115‑million‑year‑old dinosaur bone
Scientists say they have found fossilised red blood cells in a 115‑million‑year‑old dinosaur bone.
Scientists say they have found fossilised red blood cells in a 115‑million‑year‑old dinosaur bone. The Guardian reported that the discovery was made while examining the hind‑leg bones of a small meat‑eating dinosaur called Aratasaurus, which lived and died in what is now north‑eastern Brazil.
Chemical tests on the bone identified heme, the organic compound that allows haemoglobin in blood to carry oxygen around the body. The presence of heme led researchers to conclude that the structures they observed are fossilised red blood cells.
If confirmed, the find would represent one of the oldest examples of preserved blood components, offering a rare glimpse into the biology of Jurassic‑era creatures.
Why it matters
The discovery could provide new information about dinosaur physiology and the preservation of soft tissues over millions of years.
Key details
- Location
- Brazil · Americas
- Reported by
- The Guardian
- First reported
- Key names
- Aratasaurus, Jurassic Park
- Section
- Science
- Figure cited
- But that is what researchers are claiming to have discovered after analysing the hind leg bones of a small, meat-eating dinosaur called an Aratasaurus that lived and died in what is now north-eastern Brazil 115m… (The Guardian)
Sources
This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:
Read the full story at The GuardianSpotted an error? Request a correction · How this summary was produced
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