lunes, 11 de abril de 2011

Detectan vestigios de quitina en el fósil de un aterrador escorpión gigante

Nuevos análisis realizados en el fósil de 417 millones de años de antigüedad de un inquietante escorpión gigante, de una especie ya extinta, han revelado vestigios de quitina en su exoesqueleto. Este hallazgo convierte en realidad algo que hasta ahora se consideraba imposible: La antigüedad de la quitina hallada es varios cientos de millones de años mayor que la que se consideraba la máxima posible para la conservación de este material.

El hallazgo fue realizado por un equipo de científicos dirigido por George Cody del Instituto Carnegie de Washington. Los análisis se llevaron a cabo en las instalaciones de la ALS (Advanced Light Source) en el Laboratorio Nacional Lawrence Berkeley, en California.
 
El trabajo que estos expertos han realizado contradice al criterio convencional de que no se conserva material orgánico, como el hallado en la parte exterior del exoesqueleto, en fósiles muy antiguos, porque la acción de los microbios y otros procesos naturales lo descomponen fácilmente. La capa exterior del exoesqueleto está compuesta por una "malla" fibrosa de quitina, un polisacárido rico en nitrógeno, acomodada en una matriz de proteínas estructurales.

Los científicos encontraron la firma molecular de este material en un fósil con una antigüedad de 417 millones de años, perteneciente a un ejemplar de artrópodo extinto que parece un escorpión gigante. Algunas especies de euriptéridos medían hasta más de dos metros de largo. Los autores del estudio también encontraron un complejo proteico de quitina en un fósil de escorpión con 310 millones años de antigüedad. Anteriormente, la evidencia más antigua de quitina provenía de fósiles con una antigüedad de 25 millones de años.

El tamaño de estos escorpiones gigantes es una atemorizante demostración de que en el pasado los arácnidos, los insectos, los crustáceos y algunas otras criaturas eran mucho más grandes que hoy. El estudio de una pinza de escorpión marino gigante, realizado en 2007 por el paleontólogo alemán Markus Poschmann, Simon J. Braddy (de la Universidad de Bristol) y Erik Tetlie (de la Universidad de Yale), desveló, tal como informamos entonces en NC&T, que la escalofriante bestia medía alrededor de 2,5 metros de largo, lo que pasó a situarle como el mayor escorpión que la evolución haya producido.


Por lo que se sabe, los euriptéridos son los antepasados acuáticos (y ya extintos) de los escorpiones terrestres, y posiblemente de todos los arácnidos propiamente dichos.

Algunos geólogos creen que en el pasado, los artrópodos gigantes evolucionaron a medida que se elevaban los niveles de oxígeno de la atmósfera, beneficiándose de las concentraciones atmosféricas de este gas mayores que la actual. Otros creen que evolucionaron en una "carrera armamentista" junto a sus probables presas, los primeros peces con armadura.

Noticias de Ciencia y Tecnología

Escorpión prehistórico. (Foto: Simon Powell)









25 comentarios:

ome dijo...

vaya bicho!!! parece de pelicula de terror de serie B ;-)

Fundación Dinosaurios CyL dijo...

Da muchísimo susto...

MARIEL dijo...

MENOS MAL QUE EN ESTE SIGLO SOMOS NOSOTROS DE LOS MAS GRANDES BICHOS DEL PLANETA

Anónimo dijo...

Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just your articles?
I mean, what you say is fundamental and everything. However just imagine
if you added some great images or video clips to give your posts more, "pop"!
Your content is excellent but with pics and clips, this
blog could certainly be one of the greatest in
its field. Excellent blog!
Look into my website social Bookmark

Anónimo dijo...

We are a group of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community.

Your website provided us with valuable info to work on.
You've done an impressive task and our entire community might be thankful to you.

Also visit my homepage; Forex Trading System

Anónimo dijo...

hey there and thank you for your info – I've certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical issues using this site, since I experienced to reload the web site a lot of times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and can damage your quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Well I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for a lot more of your respective exciting content. Make sure you update this again soon.

Also visit my web blog - http://Www.youtube.Com/watch?v=inz1C01Jnzw

Anónimo dijo...

Right away I am ready to do my breakfast, after having my breakfast
coming again to read additional news.

Here is my web-site - world of Tanks hack

Anónimo dijo...

Howdy! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group?

There's a lot of folks that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Thanks

My weblog - Coconut Oil For Hair

Anónimo dijo...

My brother recommended I might like this web site.
He used to be entirely right. This publish actually made my day.
You cann't consider simply how a lot time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

My web site :: Www.Youtube.com

Anónimo dijo...

I am really enjoying the theme/design of your weblog.
Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility issues?
A small number of my blog readers have complained about my site not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome.
Do you have any suggestions to help fix this issue?



Here is my web site - Unknown

Anónimo dijo...

Hello, i think that i noticed you visited my site so i got here to
go back the want?.I am trying to find things to enhance my website!
I suppose its ok to make use of a few of your ideas!
!

Visit my webpage: Unknown

Anónimo dijo...

Howdy! Do you use Twitter? I'd like to follow you if that would be okay. I'm undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.


Feel free to surf to my blog post ... Unknown

Anónimo dijo...

You really make it appear so easy together with your presentation but I find this matter to be
really something which I think I would by no
means understand. It seems too complex and very wide for
me. I'm taking a look forward for your next put up, I will try to get the dangle of it!

Also visit my page ... tattoo removal cream reviews

Anónimo dijo...

Heya are using Wordpress for your blog platform?
I'm new to the blog world but I'm trying to get started and set up my own.
Do you need any html coding knowledge to make your own blog?
Any help would be really appreciated!

Here is my web-site ... psn code generator

Anónimo dijo...

There's certainly a great deal to find out about this subject. I like all of the points you have made.

Also visit my website :: Microsoft Office Gratuit

Anónimo dijo...

It is not my first time to pay a quick visit this site, i am visiting this web site dailly and obtain good information from here all the time.


Here is my site :: Microsoft points

Anónimo dijo...

This text is invaluable. When can I find out more?


Feel free to surf to my web page: The Interlace

Anónimo dijo...

I don't even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I do not know who you are but certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you are not already ;) Cheers!

My homepage - Candy crush saga hack

Anónimo dijo...

I think this is one of the most important information for me.

And i am glad reading your article. But should remark
on few general things, The website style is wonderful, the articles
is really excellent : D. Good job, cheers

Feel free to surf to my web-site; Dragon City Cheat Engine

Anónimo dijo...

I couldn't refrain from commenting. Very well written!

Here is my homepage :: Psn Code Generator

Anónimo dijo...

Hello this is somewhat of off topic but I was wondering if
blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to
manually code with HTML. I'm starting a blog soon but have no coding knowledge so I wanted to get guidance from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!

My web page: League Of Legends Hack

Anónimo dijo...

Admiring the persistence you put into your site and in depth information
you present. It's great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn't the same outdated
rehashed material. Fantastic read! I've bookmarked your site and I'm including your RSS feeds to my Google account.


Have a look at my web blog: Minecraft Gift Code Generator (http://Youtube.com/)

Anónimo dijo...

whoah this weblog is fantastic i like reading your articles.
Stay up the great work! You know, lots of individuals
are looking round for this information, you can
aid them greatly.

Take a look at my weblog Minecraft Crack

Anónimo dijo...

Its such as you learn my mind! You seem to grasp so much approximately this, such
as you wrote the e book in it or something. I believe that you just can do with some % to drive the
message house a bit, however other than that, this is wonderful blog.
A great read. I'll definitely be back.

my blog post; Jailbreak The Ps3 - -

Anónimo dijo...

What a data of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious know-how about unexpected emotions.



Also visit my web page; http://climbkorea.com/home/climb_event3/1846406