Jack Horner, professor of palaeontology, Montana State University
Scientists now believe it is possible to resurrect the dinosaur after the discovery of DNA relics in the wings and beaks of regular chickens. Yes, you heard that right! In the dusty Montana State University store room, scientists struggle to lift a huge fossilized bone from the leg of a dinosaur.
For many years, this chunky specimen has languished cryptically on a shelf. Now, with hammer and chisel poised the academics from Montana State University in America gather round. They are about to shatter this rare vestige of the past - a forgotten relic of a lost age.
The scientists believe that this fragment of a gigantic beast which stalked the earth millions of years ago could hold the key which will unlock the secrets of the dinosaurs. The sci-fi Jurassic Park could probably be reality a couple of decades from now, where dinosaurs would once again roam the world but hopefully in protected and specially created wild life sanctuaries.
The moot question is: Are scientists playing God? Treading into uncharted territory could well spell disaster. Will these beasts ever be able to survive in the present environment? But will scientists ever be able to resurrect the dinosaur? According to Jack Horner, professor of palaeontology at Montana State University, the answer is an unequivocal yes!
The moot question is: Are scientists playing God? Treading into uncharted territory could well spell disaster. Will these beasts ever be able to survive in the present environment? But will scientists ever be able to resurrect the dinosaur? According to Jack Horner, professor of palaeontology at Montana State University, the answer is an unequivocal yes!
‘Of course we can bring them back to life. Their ancestral DNA is still present. 'The science is there. I don’t think there are any barriers, other than the philosophical.’
In 2003, Horner, who acted as an advisor on the Jurassic Park films, made a remarkable discovery while his team was excavating a 68 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton in Montana. The site was so remote, the skeleton had to be removed by helicopter — the operation led to a huge thighbone splitting in two.
Horner gave a piece of the bone to one of his students, paleontologist Mary Schweitzer. Examining it, she noticed a strange structure inside the hard outer case…….
Horner gave a piece of the bone to one of his students, paleontologist Mary Schweitzer. Examining it, she noticed a strange structure inside the hard outer case…….
Would the future Jurassic sanctuary look like this?
The Million Dollar Question!
But did these beasts roam the Earth millions of years ago or just a few thousand? If so, it would be far easier for scientists to get hold of their DNA!
According to mainstream science, the age of dinosaurs came to an end about 65 million years ago when a natural cataclysm destroyed most living species. No one is really sure what or when this happened or if it happened at all! Carbon dating is most inaccurate after about 30,000 years. Today's knowledge of fossil ages comes primarily from radiometric dating. However, though they cannot date the dinosaur remains themselves, they can date only the rocks buried near the dinosaur remains. This is not accepted by many authorities as valid, as Radiometric dating is based upon controversial assumptions held to be erroneous by many scholars, as indicated by empirical research.
Human remains have been found buried with dinosaur remains on more than one occasion. Did man hunt down dinosaurs to extinction? Take a look at some of the comparatively recent engravings and cave drawings of animals that resemble the dinosaurs. This is clear indication that these beasts lived in an era not millions of years ago, but probably just several thousand!
But did these beasts roam the Earth millions of years ago or just a few thousand? If so, it would be far easier for scientists to get hold of their DNA!
According to mainstream science, the age of dinosaurs came to an end about 65 million years ago when a natural cataclysm destroyed most living species. No one is really sure what or when this happened or if it happened at all! Carbon dating is most inaccurate after about 30,000 years. Today's knowledge of fossil ages comes primarily from radiometric dating. However, though they cannot date the dinosaur remains themselves, they can date only the rocks buried near the dinosaur remains. This is not accepted by many authorities as valid, as Radiometric dating is based upon controversial assumptions held to be erroneous by many scholars, as indicated by empirical research.
Human remains have been found buried with dinosaur remains on more than one occasion. Did man hunt down dinosaurs to extinction? Take a look at some of the comparatively recent engravings and cave drawings of animals that resemble the dinosaurs. This is clear indication that these beasts lived in an era not millions of years ago, but probably just several thousand!
Deep in the jungles of Cambodia are ornate temples and palaces
from the Khmer civilization. One column as shown above contains
an intricate carving of a stegosaur-like creature. But how could artisans
decorating an 800 year old Buddhist temple know what a dinosaur looked
like? Western science only began assembling dinosaurs skeletons in the
past two centuries.
Courtesy of Don Patton.
from the Khmer civilization. One column as shown above contains
an intricate carving of a stegosaur-like creature. But how could artisans
decorating an 800 year old Buddhist temple know what a dinosaur looked
like? Western science only began assembling dinosaurs skeletons in the
past two centuries.
Courtesy of Don Patton.
The ancient Sumatrans produced multiple pieces of art depicting
long-tailed, long-necked creatures with a headcrest. Some of these
animals resemble hadrosaurs. This particular work (Ethnographical
Museum, Budapest) depicts a creature that bears a striking resemblance
to a Corythosaurus which is being hunted by these ancient Indonesian
people.
(Bodrogi, Tibor, Art of Indonesia, plate #10, 1973.)
long-tailed, long-necked creatures with a headcrest. Some of these
animals resemble hadrosaurs. This particular work (Ethnographical
Museum, Budapest) depicts a creature that bears a striking resemblance
to a Corythosaurus which is being hunted by these ancient Indonesian
people.
(Bodrogi, Tibor, Art of Indonesia, plate #10, 1973.)
In 1945 archeologist Waldemar Julsrud discovered
clay figurines buried at the foot of El Toro Mountain
on the outskirts of Acambaro, Mexico. Eventually
over 33,000 ceramic figurines were found in the
area and identified with the Pre-classical Chupicuaro
Culture (800 BC to 200 AD).The huge collection
included dinosaurs.
Courtesy: gensispark
clay figurines buried at the foot of El Toro Mountain
on the outskirts of Acambaro, Mexico. Eventually
over 33,000 ceramic figurines were found in the
area and identified with the Pre-classical Chupicuaro
Culture (800 BC to 200 AD).The huge collection
included dinosaurs.
Courtesy: gensispark
So, were dinosaurs wiped out 65 million years ago by some cataclysmic event that scientists suggest or did they become extinct just a few thousand years ago like some of the endangered species of today? Well, that’s for another thread!
But if some of these creatures are just a few thousand years old, then the possibility of extracting DNA from their bones to resurrect them becomes a real possibility.
Perhaps our children would one day be visiting not just an ordinary zoo, but a Jurassic park!
But if some of these creatures are just a few thousand years old, then the possibility of extracting DNA from their bones to resurrect them becomes a real possibility.
Perhaps our children would one day be visiting not just an ordinary zoo, but a Jurassic park!
