Remnants of Ancient Life: The New Science of Old Fossils

by Dale E. Greenwalt

Overview

The revolution in science that is transforming our understanding of extinct life

We used to think of fossils as being composed of nothing but rock and minerals, all molecular traces of life having vanished long ago. We were wrong. Remnants of Ancient Life reveals how the new science of ancient biomolecules—pigments, proteins, and DNA that once functioned in living organisms tens of millions of years ago—is opening a new window onto the evolution of life on Earth.

Paleobiologists are now uncovering these ancient remnants in the fossil record with increasing frequency, shedding vital new light on long-extinct creatures and the lost world they inhabited. Dale Greenwalt is your guide to these astonishing breakthroughs. He explains how ancient biomolecules hold the secrets to how mammoths dealt with the bitter cold, what colors dinosaurs exhibited in mating displays, how ancient viruses evolved to become more dangerous, and much more. Each chapter discusses different types of biomolecules and the insights they provide about the physiology, behavior, and evolution of extinct organisms, many of which existed long before the age of dinosaurs.

A marvelous adventure of discovery, Remnants of Ancient Life offers an unparalleled look at an emerging science that is transforming our picture of the remote past. You will never think of fossils in the same way again.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691221144
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	01/17/2023
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	590,946
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.70(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Dale E. Greenwalt is a Resident Research Associate at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, where he curates the Kishenehn Formation fossil insect collection.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction 1

1 A Blood-Engorged Mosquito 6

2 In Situ 21

3 The Purple Fossil 43

4 The Black Pigment 68

5 Dino Feathers 82

6 Ancient Biometals 96

7 Proteins and Proteomes 108

8 Dino Bones 126

9 Ancient DNA's Tenuous Origins 145

10 Our Inner Neandertal 171

11 Plants 188

12 The Future of Studying the Past 208

Notes 229

Illustration Credits 257

Index 261

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“When you think of fossils, your mind likely goes straight to dinosaur skeletons and saber-toothed tiger skulls and ancient seashells. In this readable and engaging book, Dale Greenwalt introduces us to less heralded fossils: microscopic molecules like DNA, proteins, and pigment. Through his relatable prose and stories of discovery, Greenwalt convincingly argues that some of the smallest fossils have the biggest stories to tell.”—Steve Brusatte, New York Times bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs

“In Remnants of Ancient Life, Dale Greenwalt takes readers on a grand tour through our deepest history, guided by the tiniest of fossils. Engaging and personable, this book offers a fascinating discussion of the latest developments and discoveries in paleontology.”—Beth Shapiro, author of How to Clone a Mammoth

“If your perception of paleontology is stuck in the past, you need to read this book. Dale Greenwalt takes readers on a far-ranging expedition with biochemical fossil hunters who use trace elements, pigments, proteins, and DNA to reconstruct not only evolutionary lineages but the colors, diets, and behavior of long-vanished organisms—conjuring them out of rocks and back to life.”—Marcia Bjornerud, author of Timefulness

“Remnants of Ancient Life takes readers on a spirited tour of paleontology’s new frontier—ancient molecules preserved within fossils and sediments. From dinosaur behavior and the feeding strategies of extinct insects to the evolutionary relationships of mammoths and previously unknown cousins of Neanderthals, Greenwalt shows how ancient molecules are providing novel insights into our biological past.”—Andrew H. Knoll, author of A Brief History of Earth

Editorial Reviews

Winner of the PROSE Award in Earth Science, Association of American Publishers

"[A] vivid, gripping book. . . . Dale Greenwalt . . . has written a riveting account of a field achieving revolutionary insights."—-Simon Ings, New Scientist

"[An] eye-opening guide to this new world of understanding, one that encompasses chemistry along with biology."—-David P. Barash, Wall Street Journal

"An accessible book on ancient life that focuses as much on chemistry as on biology."—-Wade Lee-Smith, Library Journal

"[Fascinating] . . . an unabashedly excited report from the front lines"—-Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Review

"The book provides a fascinating journey through the very latest in research into the origins of life on Earth. . . . No one should be intimidated by this highly readable work."—-David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds

"If you think you cannot stomach yet another popular book on palaeontology, think again. Remnants of Ancient Life is as fascinating as the inviting cover and subtitle suggest, managing to put a completely fresh gloss on the topic of palaeontology."—-Leon Vlieger, Inquisitive Biologist

"Greenwalt's book has few, if any, rivals and is thoroughly recommended as an accessible introduction to the rapidly emerging science of ancient biomolecules."—-Paul D. Taylor, Quarterly Review of Biology

From the Publisher

11/01/2022

Greenwalt, resident research associate at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, guides readers through the relatively new science of paleobiochemistry, which uses the chemical traces left behind by long-dead species to provide new insights into evolution and the biology of ancient life. While most fossils are composed of rock that has replaced once-living tissues or the impressions left by plants and animals in soft mud that has hardened, sometimes actual, physical molecules of the original organisms remain. The range of biomolecules recovered—from pigments that recast the past into vibrant color, to proteins and biopolymers that provide the literal building blocks of connective tissues, horns, feathers, and wood—is astonishing. Especially exciting, though controversial, are claims of finding readable ancient DNA, the blueprint for life. Time, pressure, and heat degrade all of these molecules, so finding samples that can be analyzed with any certainty is a matter of luck, location, and improved methods of detection and analysis. Particularly intriguing is the final chapter that looks toward present-day applications, such as using extinct enzymes to make wood a better source of fuel. VERDICT An accessible book on ancient life that focuses as much on chemistry as on biology.—Wade Lee-Smith

Library Journal