Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32968129›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2020

Molecular tests support the viability of rare earth elements as proxies for fossil biomolecule preservation.

Paul V Ullmann, Kristyn K Voegele, David E Grandstaff, Richard D Ash, Wenxia Zheng, Elena R Schroeter, Mary H Schweitzer, Kenneth J Lacovara

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
5.2field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 18 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.

Paul V UllmannDepartment of Geology, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA. ullmann@rowan.edu.
Kristyn K VoegeleDepartment of Geology, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA.
David E GrandstaffDepartment of Earth and Environmental Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Richard D AshDepartment of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
Wenxia ZhengDepartment of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Elena R SchroeterDepartment of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Mary H SchweitzerDepartment of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Kenneth J LacovaraDepartment of Geology, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA.
Rowan University · USNorth Carolina State University · USLund University · SETemple University · USUniversity of Maryland, College Park · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The rare earth element (REE) composition of a fossil bone reflects its chemical alteration during diagenesis. Consequently, fossils presenting low REE concentrations and/or REE profiles indicative of simple diffusion, signifying minimal alteration, have been proposed as ideal candidates for paleomolecular investigation. We directly tested this prediction by conducting multiple biomolecular assays on a well-preserved fibula of the dinosaur Edmontosaurus from the Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation previously found to exhibit low REE concentrations and steeply-declining REE profiles. Gel electrophoresis identified the presence of organic material in this specimen, and subsequent immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays identified preservation of epitopes of the structural protein collagen I. Our results thereby support the utility of REE profiles as proxies for soft tissue and biomolecular preservation in fossil bones. Based on considerations of trace element taphonomy, we also draw predictions as to the biomolecular recovery potential of additional REE profile types exhibited by fossil bones.

Indexed as

DinosaursFossilsAnimalsBone and BonesMetals, Rare EarthTrace ElementsMetals, Rare EarthTrace Elements

Identifiers

PMID32968129
PMCPMC7511940
OpenAlexW3176962166

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.