How can soft tissue exist in dinosaur fossils? In this article the author explains that they found soft tissues inside of 68-million-year-old dinosaur fossils. How can that be possible? It was believed that soft tissues cannot last more than a million years and that DNA degrades even sooner. > Our findings challenged everything scientists thought they knew about the breakdown of cells and molecules. Test-tube studies of organic molecules indicated that proteins should not persist more than a million years or so; DNA had an even shorter life span. What is the evidence that the fossils were real? ![enter image description here](

keratin and collagen are an incredibly tough molecules so if it is isolated from the environment (oxygen and bacteria) it could easily survive for that long. Not all proteins are equal some are very robust other very fragile. We have long known protein and carbohydrates can survive for incredible lengths of time under the right circumstances, amber is famous for it. Rapid deposition of minerals can produce a similar if less powerful result.

In this case the keratin was encapsulated by water deposited minerals that sealed it away from the outside environment. There are other examples as well, natural mummification can lead to some preservation in the form of biofilms and impressions. But the most dramatic are amber encased specimens. Amber is a quick forming and creates a perfect air seal.

here31193-9) is a dinosaur tail preserved in amber.

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