Evolution: Are birds descendants of dinosaurs?

Answer 1

Two years ago, everyone was talking about the work of paleontologist Mary Schweitzer: she noticed that thin slices of a 68-million-year-old fossil femur from a Tyrannosaurus rex looked like they still contained soft tissue. Using antibodies to the collagen protein, she showed that the bone still contained intact collagen molecules—the main component of cartilage, ligaments, and tendons A new study shows that preserved collagen from a 68-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex is similar to that of chickens. She used antibodies to a type of collagen extracted from chickens. The fact that the antibodies stuck suggested that T. rex collagen is similar to that of birds. And when she compared the preserved soft tissue to that of modern animals, the closest match was an emu—a flightless bird.

To learn more about the collagen in the T. rex bones, Schweitzer worked with John Asara, a chemist at Harvard University, to analyze it using mass spectrometry.

The Economist describes the technique this way:

This technique identifies molecules (or fragments of molecules) from a combination of their weight and their electric charges. Knowing the weights of different sorts of atoms (and of groups of atoms that show up regularly in larger molecules, such as the 20 different amino acids from which proteins are assembled) it is usually possible to piece together fragments to form the profile of an entire protein.

When Asara compared the profile he'd created to proteins from living animals, the closest matches were to chickens and ostriches. (Schweitzer and Asara's study was published in the April 13, 2007, issue of the journal Science.)

Answer 2

Yes some of them are but before they could fly,they ran along the ground and climbed up trees then flew from branch to branch. A typical birdlike creature from the prehistoric days is the Archaeopteryx. A fossil from the limestone of Bavaria about 160 million years old ,and populary known as 'the first bird'. Archaopteryx was about the size of a crow and had feathers and wings,but in many respects it's skeleton is reptilian[long tail,and teeth] and very like some small dinosaurs of the time.

Answer 3

Well yes, birds are descendants of dinosaurs, dinosaurs branched from Archosauria then to the branch of Theropods, down the tree are the Coelurosaurs then the birds, but the missing link between the dinosuars and birds may still be missing, for me the Microraptor would be the missing link, then through the period of time the Caudipteryx will emerge after that the Archeopteryx, then Confuciusornis, after the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous the rise of the Rahonavis, Shuvia, and Hesperornis came, then, the modern bird started to show up.

Answer 4

I am inclined to believe this theory as I don't believe two perfectly formed persons suddenly arrived on our planet Oh no! Adam wanted some fun and so the rib was taken from the man and a mate was created and the evil one (the woman) ate an apple and started having sex and having children. We evolved, starting with crawling out of the water and adapting and that is how we evolved, just like Dino's and everything else that evolved

Answer 5

Yes. Based on fossil evidence, the earliest dinosaurs known to evolve feathers were the Maniraptorans, 190 million years ago. Based on the likely stages of feather evolution (studies of molecular genetics of feathers by Brusch, et. al.) it is likely that feathers evolved for purposes of thermoregulation and that the aerodynamic properties of feathers was serendipitous. One species of Maniraptoran gave rise to the Enantiornithians about 165 million years ago (Archaeopteryx is a genus in this group), which were half bird/half dino (head, teeth, claws and feet of dinos, feathers and wings like birds). One species of Enantiornithian gave rise to the Ornithurians (primitive proto birds of which the genus Hesperornis is an example) 130 million years ago. One species of Ornithurian gave rise to Neornthian birds (includes all modern birds) 90 million years ago.

Answer 6

That the DNA is contemporary is certainty. That the DNA is dormant is certainty. That the DNA is traceable back to dinosuars is organic conjecture and guesswork. >I< have tooth. My puppy cat certainly has tooth! Lizard have tooth. My DNA is shared approximately 80% to ninety% with each and every of the above -- and with poultry. certainty is, chickens proportion a lot in concern-loose with maximum sensible existence on the planet -- Quadrupedal Bilateral Symetry -- 2 palms (or winfs) left and surprising, 2 legs left and surprising, 2 eyes left and surprising, 2 lungs left and surprising, 2 ears left and surprising, one heart, one techniques , one nostril, one set of gut . . . . . as a count of certainty, Quadrapedal Bilateral Symetry WORKS on the planet, and intensely almost all existence greater sensible than bugs shows that certainty -- for this reason, the DNA trend is shared 80-ninety p.c. with ALL sensible existence -- humabns, chickens, lizard, cats, canines, whales, fish . . . . WHY, then, do you even give up for a minute to believe that some animals who have not got tooth have not got the tooth DNA? Why replaced into finding "dormant DNA" the type of marvel? Why could you believe that people have not got feather DNA? merely becasue it hasn't been chanced on doesn;t propose that it is not so!. the question isn't approximately no count if or no longer we've it, yet no count if or no longer it is useful. people do no longer prefer feathers; chickens do no longer prefer tooth. Making the perception that the "toothed poultry" DNA is by some skill evolutionarily derived from DINOSAURS shows severe lack of expertise of person-friendly scientifc approach, AND an very almost reglious would desire to coach oneself surprising, even with the validity of the data. stupid, stupid boy!

Answer 7

That's the latest theory and seems to be holding better than any of the others. They're pretty much decided that lizards don't fit this well and birds do - especially since they found the latest one in China that had places for feathers (looked a lot like ostridge skin).

Answer 8

Yes they are, I don't know much about the subject but the name of a group of birds of prey are called raptors, this is because they are decedents of the dinosaur family called the raptors, these were fast, agile dinosaurs who depended on there speed to catch there prey, just like modern birds of prey

Answer 9

Yes the dinosaur's direct decendents are the birds and for proof there are dinosaur like prehistoric birbs eg: gastornis and phaurashuarcos and dinosaur like living birds eg: emu, rhea and ostrich plus bird like dinosaurs such as microraptor, arcaeoptrix and ceolophysis.

Answer 10

ive been out with a few birds that have definately descended from dinosaurs.

Answer 11

Technically if you look at every part of evolution the first mamals evolved from small dinosuars so we are also descendents of the dinosuars but answering your question, yes birds are descendents of the donisuars.