Putative fossil blood cells reinterpreted as diagenetic structures

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dc.contributor.authorKorneisel, Dana E.en
dc.contributor.authorNesbitt, Sterling J.en
dc.contributor.authorWerning, Sarahen
dc.contributor.authorXiao, Shuhaien
dc.date.accessioned2022-09-02T19:36:39Zen
dc.date.available2022-09-02T19:36:39Zen
dc.date.issued2021-12-16en
dc.description.abstractRed to red-orange spheres in the vascular canals of fossil bone thin sections have been repeatedly reported using light microscopy. Some of these have been interpreted as the fossilized remains of blood cells or, alternatively, pyrite framboids. Here, we assess claims of blood cell preservation within bones of the therizinosauroid theropod Beipiaosaurus inexpectus from the Jehol Lagerstatte. Using Raman spectroscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry, and Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy, we found evidence of high taphonomic alteration of the bone. We also found that the vascular canals in the bone, once purported to contain fossil red blood cell, are filled with a mix of clay minerals and carbonaceous compounds. The spheres could not be analyzed in isolation, but we did not find any evidence of pyrite or heme compounds in the vessels, surrounding bone, or matrix. However, we did observe similar spheres under light microscopy in petrified wood found in proximity to the dinosaur. Consequently, we conclude that the red spheres are most likely diagenetic structures replicated by the clay minerals present throughout the vascular canals.en
dc.description.notesThis research was supported by a NASA Exobiology grant to SX (award number 80NSSC18K1086) and a GSA graduate student research grant to DEK. There was no additional external funding received for this study. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.en
dc.description.sponsorshipNASA Exobiology grant [80NSSC18K1086]; GSA graduate student research granten
dc.description.versionPublished versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12651en
dc.identifier.issn2167-8359en
dc.identifier.othere12651en
dc.identifier.pmid35003935en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/111700en
dc.identifier.volume9en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherPeerJen
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
dc.subjectTaphonomyen
dc.subjectRed blood cellen
dc.subjectPreservationen
dc.subjectTherizinosauren
dc.subjectFossil blooden
dc.subjectHistologyen
dc.subjectTOF-SIMSen
dc.subjectEDSen
dc.subjectRaman spectroscopyen
dc.subjectCretaceousen
dc.titlePutative fossil blood cells reinterpreted as diagenetic structuresen
dc.title.serialPeerJen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten

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