Latest news with #Telmatosaurus
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Found Cancer in a Dinosaur – And It Might Help Save Human Lives
At first glance, dinosaur fossils and modern cancer research may seem worlds apart. But a new study suggests that soft tissue preserved for millions of years inside ancient bones could offer valuable insights into how cancer works – and how we might treat it today. Researchers from the UK and Romania examined the fossilized remains of a Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus dinosaur, a small, cow-sized 'marsh lizard' that lived around 66–70 million years ago in what is now Romania. Using high-powered microscopy, the team discovered structures resembling red blood cells (or erythrocytes), linked to a tumor in the dinosaur's jaw, which a previous study discovered. It's a discovery that suggests small flecks of soft tissue may be preserved in fossils more often than we thought – and that means there's much more we can figure out about these ancient creatures, including any diseases they had. "Unlike skeletal structures alone, soft tissues contain proteins that provide molecular information that can reveal the underlying biological mechanisms of disease," says oncologist Justin Stebbing, from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. "Our research, using relatively underused methods, invites further exploration that could hold the key to future discoveries that could benefit humans." For example, finding fragments of soft dinosaur tissue like those described here could prove to be crucial in understanding cancer mechanisms and how they've evolved, the researchers suggest. Large animals like whales and elephants have evolved ways of protecting themselves against cancer, and it's possible that dinosaurs could have, too. Understanding these ancient biological adaptations might one day inform new approaches to cancer prevention or treatment in humans. Careful preservation of these samples is key, however: we can assume that future scientific advances will be made in analysis equipment, but those upgrades won't be as significant without any dinosaur tissue to study. "Dinosaurs, as long-lived, large-bodied organisms, present a compelling case for investigating how species managed cancer susceptibility and resistance over millions of years," says Stebbing. "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 dinosaur that was the focus of this study had an ameloblastoma tumor, a tumor type still found in humans today. That the dinosaurs roamed Earth for millions of years means the potential is there to see how cancer may have changed over that time – and how the afflicted species may have adapted. And while it may seem implausible that anything organic could survive for so long, it is possible – as this new study shows – so we can see how genetics, biology, and environmental pressures helped to cause cancer in the Late Cretaceous. "Proteins, particularly those found in calcified tissues like bone, are more stable than DNA and are less susceptible to degradation and contamination," says Stebbing. "This makes them ideal candidates for studying ancient diseases, including cancer, in paleontological specimens." The research has been published in Biology. Here's Why Rational People Skip Vaccines Even When They Trust Science Softgel Capsules Draw Concerns Over Toxic Shells. Here's What to Know. Your Breathing Pattern Is as Unique as a Fingerprint, Study Finds
Daily Mirror
31-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Dinosaurs may hold key to cancer breakthroughs say scientists
Researchers explored the fossil of a Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, a 'marsh lizard' that existed between 66 and 70 million years ago Dinosaurs might not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering cancer treatment. Yet scientists now believe these prehistoric creatures could actually provide valuable insights on how to tackle the complex, cell-mutating disease. Ne w research from Anglia Ruskin University and Imperial College London explored this subject, using pioneering techniques to closely examine the fossil of an ancient species. Now they theorise that soft tissue and cellular structures are perhaps preserved in ancient remains more frequently than previously understood, potentially offering crucial information for future illness prevention. Senior author Justin Stebbing, Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University, said: "Dinosaurs, as long-lived, large-bodied organisms, present a compelling case for investigating how species managed cancer susceptibility and resistance over millions of years. "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 researchers specifically highlighted the Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, a duck-billed 'marsh lizard' that roamed what is now Romania between 66 and 70 million years ago. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), researchers discovered 'red blood cell-like structures' within a fossil of this creature. Now, by examining preserved proteins and biomarkers, scientists hope to gain insights into diseases that impacted prehistoric animals, including cancer. This project builds on a previous study that found evidence of cancer in the same marsh lizard. Professor Stebbing continued: "Unlike skeletal structures alone, soft tissues contain proteins that provide molecular information that can reveal the underlying biological mechanisms of disease." With this in mind, scientists also emphasised the importance of gathering and preserving dinosaur tissue, not just skeletons. They asserted that future analyses could enhance our understanding of disease evolution over time, potentially informing treatments for humans. "Our research, using relatively underused methods, invites further exploration that could hold the key to future discoveries that could benefit humans," Professor Stebbing added. "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."
South China Morning Post
30-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
How dinosaur fossils could help fill in cancer's ‘jigsaw' of molecular building blocks
Dinosaur fossils could hold the key to new cancer discoveries and influence future treatments for humans, scientists say. Advertisement In a new study published in the journal Biology that was almost a decade in the making, researchers from two UK universities – Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Imperial College London – identified preserved structures resembling red blood cells in the fossil of a dinosaur that had a tumour. The findings raised the possibility that prehistoric creatures could be used to study ancient tumours, helping to fill in the 'jigsaw' of cancer's molecular building blocks. This could potentially influence future treatments for humans. The idea for the study began in 2016 when Professor Justin Stebbing, an oncologist at ARU, came across a news article about the discovery of a new fossil in Romania with a tumour in its jaw. The remains were those of a juvenile Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, a duck-billed, plant-eating 'marsh lizard' that had lived 66-70 million years ago in the Hateg Basin in present-day Romania. A sketch of Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus. Image: Debivort/CC-BY-SA-3.0 'Justin said, 'Guys, I want to go and get this tumour and see what we can get out of it,'' said Dr Biancastella Cereser, a cancer specialist at Imperial.
The Independent
29-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Scientists look to dinosaurs for modern cancer treatment
A decade-long study by Anglia Ruskin University and Imperial College London suggests dinosaur fossils could hold the key to new cancer discoveries and influence future treatments. Researchers identified preserved red blood cell-like structures in a dinosaur fossil, raising the possibility of studying ancient tumours. The study began in 2016 after the discovery of a tumour in the jaw of a Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus, a duck-billed dinosaur that lived 66-70 million years ago in present-day Romania. Scientists drilled into the fossil and used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to identify low-density structures resembling red blood cells. Researchers want to understand the molecular building blocks of cancer from an ancient perspective, potentially leading to better treatments by studying soft tissues and proteins that survive over time.
