"Do creation scientists do actual science, or do they just propagate religious talking points? Ancient and Fossil Bone Collagen Remnants, based on Dr. Brian Thomas’ PhD dissertation, answers this question. Intended for the technical science reader, it reveals results from research projects designed to address questions about the presence or absence, geographic and stratigraphic extent, and decay rate of collagen in ancient bones. Not only do the experiments and descriptions found in this volume show that yes, creation scientists do real science, but they also provide the solid technical background needed to address the question of why short-lived collagen has been found in supposedly very old dinosaur bones"--Publisher's description.

"We usually think of fossils as being composed of rock, the original contents of the organisms lost to time. However, this is changing. Due to new technologies scientists are able to access the ancient biomolecules--the pigments, proteins, chemicals, and DNA--that once performed critical roles in organisms and have been preserved accross millions of years. In this book, Dale Greenwalt introduces readers to the new science of ancient biomolecules and what it tells about the lives of long extinct life. Ancient biomolecules, as we learn, give us a whole new view into the past. After an introductory explanation of what biomolecules are (and are not), each chapter treats an ancient biomolecule and what it can teach us about a long-dead organism and how it may have lived. For example, analysis of preserved pigmentation has improved our understanding of the evolution of camouflage, feathered dinosaurs, and flight. Ancient proteins aid taxonomic identification and determinations of sex. And ancient DNA-perhaps the best-known ancient biomolecule-can shed light on species' ancestry, including our own. Drawing on a wealth of paleontological research, including his own, Greenwalt traces ancient organic material back millions of years. Throughout, he emphasizes the infancy of this science while the book's conclusion looks ahead to its possible future in everything from the search for life on other planets to de-extinction"--

This unique reference provides a primary source for osteologists and the medical/legal community for the understanding of burned bone remains in forensic or archaeological contexts. It describes in detail the changes in human bone and soft tissues as a body burns at both the chemical and gross levels and provides an overview of the current procedures in burned bone study. Case studies in forensic and archaeological settings aid those interested in the analysis of burned human bodies, from death scene investigators, to biological anthropologists looking at the recent or ancient dead. Includes the diagnostic patterning of color changes that give insight to the severity of burning, the positioning of the body, and presence (or absence) of soft tissues during the burning event Chapters on bones and teeth give step-by-step recommendations for how to study and recognize burned hard tissues

An Indispensable Resource on Advanced Methods of Analysis of Human Skeletal and Dental Remains in Archaeological and Forensic Contexts Now in its third edition, Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton has become a key reference for bioarchaeologists, human osteologists, and paleopathologists throughout the world. It builds upon basic skills to provide the foundation for advanced scientific analyses of human skeletal remains in cultural, archaeological, and theoretical contexts. This new edition features updated coverage of topics including histomorphometry, dental morphology, stable isotope methods, and ancient DNA, as well as a number of new chapters on paleopathology. It also covers bioarchaeological ethics, taphonomy and the nature of archaeological assemblages, biomechanical analyses of archaeological human skeletons, and more. Fully updated and revised with new material written by leading researchers in the field Includes many case studies to demonstrate application of methods of analysis Offers valuable information on contexts, methods, applications, promises, and pitfalls Covering the latest advanced methods and techniques for analyzing skeletal and dental remains from archaeological discoveries, Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton is a trusted text for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals in human osteology, bioarchaeology, and paleopathology.

The paleontologist and professor of anatomy who co-discovered Tiktaalik, the “fish with hands,” tells a “compelling scientific adventure story that will change forever how you understand what it means to be human” (Oliver Sacks). By examining fossils and DNA, he shows us that our hands actually resemble fish fins, our heads are organized like long-extinct jawless fish, and major parts of our genomes look and function like those of worms and bacteria. Your Inner Fish makes us look at ourselves and our world in an illuminating new light. This is science writing at its finest—enlightening, accessible and told with irresistible enthusiasm.