Tyrannosaurus rex

Early reports of DNA preservation in multimillion-year-old bones (i.e.,<i> from</i> dinosaurs) have been largely dismissed ( 1, 2) (table S1), but reports of protein recovery are persistent [see ( 3) for review]. Most of these studies used secondary methods of detection, but Asara<i> et al</i>. ( 2) recently reported the direct identification of protein sequences, arguably the gold standard for molecular palaeontology, from fossil bones of an extinct mastodon and<i> Tyrannosaurus rex</i>. After initial optimism gen­ erated by reports of dinosaur DNA, there has been increasing awareness of the problems and pitfalls that bedevil analysis of ancient samples ( 1), leading to a series of recommendations for future analysis ( 1, 4). As yet, there are no equiv­ alent standards for fossil protein, so here we apply the recommended tests for DNA ( 4) to the authentication of the reported mastodon and<i> T</i>.<i> rex</i> protein sequ...