• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • WordPress
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
Science Update

Science Update

Sharing Science | Satisfying Curiosity | Debunking BS

  • Spotlights
  • Reality Check
  • Why Is It?
  • Radio Archives
  • Sciup @ School
Home » Radio Archive » Daily Show » Tyrannosaurus Rex & Birds

Tyrannosaurus Rex & Birds

May 15, 2008
https://podcast.scienceupdate.com/080515_sciup_trex.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window

BOB HIRSHON (host):
"From dinosaurs to birds….I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.

You’ve probably heard that birds are the closest living relatives of dinosaurs. That’s because birds share many physical features with dinosaur fossils. But confirming their genetic relationship was difficult because DNA breaks down quickly. However, DNA codes for proteins, which are more durable. Now scientists have sequenced a type of protein called collagen from the bone of a Tyrannosaurus rex that was unearthed in 2003. Biologist Chris Organ of Harvard University led the sequencing project.

CHRIS ORGAN (Harvard University):
Even though we only have a small number of amino acids for the tyrannosaur, there’s enough signal in those data to place it with birds.

HIRSHON:
He adds that the technique could be used to illuminate the evolutionary relationships of other extinct animals, as well. I’m Bob Hirshon, for AAAS, the science society.

Category: Daily ShowTag: Biology, Genetics & Evolution, Paleontology & Dinosaurs
Previous Post:Geographic Gene Expression
Next Post:Loud Mammal Roundup

Sidebar

Radio Program Archives

Want to learn more about the brain? The environment? Here you can browse the topics that come up regularly on Science Update.

Search the Archives

Categories

  • Daily Show
  • Station Download
  • Weekly Show

Find By Tag

  • 2020
  • Acoustics & Sound
  • Aging
  • Animal Behavior
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Astronomy & Space
  • Biology
  • Brain Science
  • Bugs
  • Cat Video
  • Chemistry
  • Children & Families
  • cicadas
  • Climate & Weather
  • Communications
  • Computer Science
  • Economics & Business
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Environment & Conservation
  • Genetics & Evolution
  • Geology
  • Marine Science
  • Materials Science
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine & Health
  • Microbiology
  • Nanotechnology
  • NASA
  • Nutrition & Food Science
  • Paleontology & Dinosaurs
  • Physics
  • Plants & Agriculture
  • Political Science
  • Reality Check
  • Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • Sports & Fitness
  • spotlight
  • Spotlight Bugs
  • Terrorism & War
  • Why Is It? Questions
  • Wildlife
  • Year in Review

Find By Date

Science Update
  • About Science Update
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

Image of computer screen depicting an orange cat with a variety of alphanumeric scientific data superimposed on the the screen.
Spotted skunk performing handstand to threaten predators

Copyright © 2025 · Springtail Media LLC · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Pongos