Backbencher

NZHerald.co.nz, April 26, 2008: Analysis of a 68-million old protein has been subjected to testing for DNA analysis and has resulted in a significant discovery! Scientists have argued for generations over the origins and relatedness of avians and reptiles. For example, as suggested by some, the dinosaurs such as the Tyrannosaurus rex has many phenotypical (physical attributes) similarities to crocodiles and amphibians…more so than the avian persuasion! This discovery suggest that the avian lineage was more closely linked instead! In other words, although there will continue to be arguments and additional research and tests, it further supports the avian ancestry did in fact branch from the ancestral line at a point in closer proximity to dinosaurs than the reptilian line! The paper continues to report the additional support of skeletal similarities to birds and the intracaces of DNA testing, such as, amino acids and peptides that can potentially provide continued support for their findings. This is very interesting in the field of science! Our instructors continually state that science an ever changing medium depending upon the scientific discoveries of past and present! It is my hope that this will provide additional information on the scientific discoveries being done in New Zealand for our class, and that it is an interesting read!