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Measuring Spatially- and Directionally-varying Light Scattering from Biological Material

Measuring Spatially- and Directionally-varying Light Scattering from Biological Material

Published on: May 20, 2013

Structural coloration in a fossil feather.

Jakob Vinther¹, Derek E G Briggs, Julia Clarke

¹Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, , New Haven, CT 06520, USA.

Biology Letters

|August 28, 2009

Summary

Fossilized feathers from Germany reveal preserved melanosomes, indicating ancient birds and dinosaurs had structural color. This discovery offers the first evidence of color-producing nanostructures in fossil feathers.

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Area of Science:

Paleontology
Biomineralization
Archaeology

Background:

Feathers are complex biological structures crucial for avian evolution.
Melanosomes are organelles within cells that produce melanin pigments.
Fossilization processes can preserve cellular structures, offering insights into ancient life.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the preservation state of feather microstructures in the Messel Oil Shale.
To identify fossilized melanosomes and their arrangement within ancient feathers.
To determine if color-producing nanostructures are preserved in fossil feathers.

Main Methods:

Microscopic analysis of fossilized feather structures.
Identification and characterization of fossilized melanosomes.
Comparison of fossil nanostructures with those in modern birds.

Main Results:

Feathers from the Messel Oil Shale are preserved as arrays of fossilized melanosomes.
A unique arrangement of melanosomes in some feathers mimics the nanostructure of iridescent structural color in modern birds.
This represents the first evidence of preserved color-producing nanostructures in fossil feathers.

Conclusions:

Fossilized melanosomes in ancient feathers can retain their original nanostructure.
This preservation allows for the inference of structural coloration in extinct birds and other dinosaurs.
The study confirms the potential for reconstructing ancient colors and visual appearances.