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The biomolecular paleontology of continental fossils

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2019

Derek E. G. Briggs ,
Richard P. Evershed  and
Matthew J. Lockheart
Derek E. G. Briggs
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, United Kingdom. E-mail: D.E.G.Briggs@bristol.ac.uk
Richard P. Evershed
Affiliation:
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, BS8 1TS, United Kingdom. E-mail: R.REvershed@bristol.ac.uk and E-mail: Matthew.Lockheart@bristol.ac.uk
Matthew J. Lockheart
Affiliation:
School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, BS8 1TS, United Kingdom. E-mail: R.REvershed@bristol.ac.uk and E-mail: Matthew.Lockheart@bristol.ac.uk
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Abstract

The preservation of compounds of biological origin (nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and resistant biopolymers) in terrigenous fossils and the chemical and structural changes that they undergo during fossilization are discussed over three critical stratigraphic levels or “time slices.” The youngest of these is the archeological record (e.g., <10 k.y. B.P.), when organic matter from living organisms undergoes the preliminary stages of fossilization (certain classes of biomolecule are selectively preserved while others undergo rapid degradation). The second time slice is the Tertiary. Well-preserved fossils of this age retain diagenetically modified biomarkers and biopolymers for which a product-precursor relationship with the original biological materials can still be identified. The final time slice is the Carboniferous. Organic material of this age has generally undergone such extensive diagenetic degradation that only the most resistant biopolymers remain and these have undergone substantial modification. Trends through time in the taphonomy and utility of ancient biomolecules in terrigenous fossils affect their potential for studies that involve chemosystematic and environmental data.

Type
Research Article
Information
Paleobiology , Volume 26 , Issue S4: Deep Time: Paleobiology's Perspective , 2000 , pp. 169 - 193
Copyright
Copyright © 2000 by The Paleontological Society 

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References

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