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Structure of 450 million year old protein reveals evolution's steps

Researchers recreated a 450-million-year-old protein using X-ray crystallography and mapped its structure. They found that only seven mutations were needed to evolve the ancient receptor into its modern form, with some 'permissive' changes paving the way for more significant transformations.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalScience·DateAug 16, 2007

Study of protein folds offers insight into metabolic evolution

Researchers created a global family tree of metabolic protein architecture using phylogenetic analysis techniques. The study found that many metabolic protein folds are quite ancient, with some common in all species analyzed, while others are more recent.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 18, 2007

Protein fragments sequenced in 68 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex

Researchers have successfully sequenced tiny pieces of collagen protein from a 68 million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil, closely matching amino acid sequences found in present-day chickens. The findings support the long-debated proposal that birds and dinosaurs are evolutionarily related.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalScience·DateApr 12, 2007

Promising Clockwork Clues Reported

Biological clocks are reset by slow action of White Collar-1 and White Collar-2 proteins; these proteins work in the dark without light stimulation. Their discovery provides a link between light perception and circadian rhythms, opening an evolutionary window into clock mechanisms.

SourceThe Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth·DateMay 1, 1997
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GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.