For example, some studies suggest that the combination of clay and dancing water starts a process of hardening soft tissues in the body, similar to the way special chemicals can turn flexible cowhide into skin, Ortega-Hernández said.
Much work must be done to clarify the role of sediments in fossil conservation, but so far, ample evidence suggests that arthropods are under intense pressure to harden over time, Strausfeld said. The brain and nerves in animals slough off in the process, and because nerve tissue is high in fat, the structures repel water and “have some resistance to tooth decay,” he said.
Despite supporting evidence, Ortega-Hernández, Strausfeld and their colleagues may need to dig a lot more of the brain parts of arthropods to convince those unaware that ancient brains could. fossil.
“We appreciate the efforts of the authors to prove their results to be true neural tissue, but remain skeptical while the data only comes from two fossils,” Liu said. “New data is always welcome, but as we noted before, we will be more convinced if the anatomical features appear in consistent form on some independent samples.”
Seen more at: Skeleton you and me we got this poster
