Scientists study evidence modern birds came from dinosaurs

WASHINGTON — It looks like chickens deserve more respect. Scientists are fleshing out the proof that today's broiler-fryer is descended from the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex. And, not a surprise, they confirmed a close relationship between mastodons and elephants
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Now, bits of protein obtained from connective tissues in a T. rex fossil shows a relationship to birds including chickens and ostriches, according to a report in Friday's edition of the journal Science.
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With more data, Organ said, they would probably be able to place T. rex on the evolutionary tree between alligators and chickens and ostriches.

"We also show that it groups better with birds than modern reptiles, such as alligators and green anole lizards," Asara added.
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/science/5728639.html

The creep not only pecked me, he slashed his talons across my legs.

They used to rule the planet, and now they're on the grill!

Sweet :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassowary

SCARY damned bird.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatryma



(The drawing in the background is of a Cenozoic giant bird, a phorusrhacid: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phorusrhacid )

I've been making jokes that I was eating fried dinosaur since I was a kid... I thought it was the accepted theory. I mean the T-Rex had down. :shrug:

The two sharing similar body plans is one thing; the two sharing similar body plans and stumbling over intact proteins from an actual dinosaur is another altogether.