Molecular fingerprints resolve affinities of Rhynie chert organic fossils

C. C. Loron; E. Rodriguez Dzul; P. J. Orr; A. V. Gromov; N. C. Fraser; S. McMahon

doi:10.1038/s41467-023-37047-1

Nature Communications (Mar 2023)

Molecular fingerprints resolve affinities of Rhynie chert organic fossils

C. C. Loron,
E. Rodriguez Dzul,
P. J. Orr,
A. V. Gromov,
N. C. Fraser,
S. McMahon

Affiliations

C. C. Loron: UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
E. Rodriguez Dzul: UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
P. J. Orr: UCD School of Earth Sciences, University College Dublin
A. V. Gromov: EastCHEM and School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh
N. C. Fraser: Natural Sciences Department, National Museums Scotland
S. McMahon: UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37047-1
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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It can be challenging to identify extinct organisms with morphology alone. Here, the authors use non-destructive Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to determine the molecular fingerprints of eukaryotes and prokaryotes from the 407 Ma Rhynie chert fossil assemblage of Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Published in Nature Communications

ISSN: 2041-1723 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

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