Re: blood sample?

[Tom Holtz <tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov>]

>> Last I heard, Schweitzer et al. still considered them "potential blood
>> cells".

>Interestingly, the only real info that I've found on the cell is from a
>children's book by Lessem, called _Jack Horner: Living with Dinosaurs_ (W.H.
>Freeman & Co., New York: 1994) from the Scientific Superstars series of
>Scientific American Books for Young Readers. Excerpted from page 40:

[various bits deleted]

> Still, the tone of the chapter makes it
>pretty clear that they consider the blood cell more than "possible"...

Well, that may be for the kids' book.  However, at the last two SVP
meetings (where Mary Schweitzer presented her data), she was VERY cautious
about it.  (A very admirable way of presenting what could easily become
over-sensationalized data, I might add).

There definitely are structures in the osteons of the T. rex bone.  These
structures are roughly circular, with a denser mass in the center.  The
elemental profile of these structures indicates high levels of iron.  They
do sound like potential erythrocytes to me.

                                
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr.                                   
tholtz@geochange.er.usgs.gov
Vertebrate Paleontologist in Exile                  Phone:      703-648-5280
U.S. Geological Survey                                FAX:      703-648-5420
Branch of Paleontology & Stratigraphy
MS 970 National Center
Reston, VA  22092
U.S.A.