A new review paper published in the journal Expert Review of Proteomics summarizes 85 reports of organic remains in fossils.1 Some of the reports describe whole tissues like blood vessels, dried but intact skin, and connective tissues on or inside fossils like dinosaur bones. Other reports describe whole cells like red blood cells and bone cells. Other reports in the review paper describe biochemicals specific to animals (not microbes), including proteins, collagen, elastin, ovalbumin, and keratin. All these reports revealed three trends that call for a vast rethink of the mainstream age of fossils.
The first trend describes a diversity of organic material among different types of fossils. Since the 1960s, researchers have reported on what appear to be original biological material in many fossils allegedly to be millions of years old. These biological remnants occur in dinosaur, bird, mammal, plant, reptile, amphibian, clam, insect and other arthropods, sponge, and worm fossils.
A second trend involves geography. The study authors noted the extent of biomaterials in fossils covers most of Earth. Some researchers even described their results taken from offshore fossils. Literature describes these remnants in fossils from North America, South America, a few in Africa, Europe (including Belgium, UK, and Spain), and Asia (featuring India and China). So far, only Antarctica and Australia lack fresh-looking fossils.
Amino acids found in a tree stump fossil might, if published technically, add Antarctica to the list.2 Australia’s inclusion may just be a matter of investigative time and effort. Thus, this second trend finds that fossil biomaterials span the globe. Shouldn’t a global effect call for a global cause?
Third, the study authors noted extensive geology. Over the last fifty years, hundreds of fossil experts have found specimens that apparently contain original biomaterials from most of the ten iconic geological systems. The researchers tallied a high number of finds from Cretaceous layers, and some reports from Jurassic, Triassic, Pennsylvanian, Silurian, and Cambrian. The most surprising protein remnants were found in layers below the Cambrian. These lowermost strata bear age assignments far older than 500 million years—a clear mismatch with expected protein chemical lifespans.
The review paper noted that biomaterials like proteins always decay over time, and that experiments show that although some might last thousands of years, none should last millions. The study authors therefore had to admit to the ridiculously huge difference between experimental expectations and the actual fossil finds and the dates traditionally ascribed to them. Biomaterial preservation appears not to care about creature kinds, continents, or even rock layers. Organic remains could pop up anywhere one finds fossils. In the end, readers are left to find their own ways to explain these three trends from the 85 scientific reports.
References
1. Thomas, B., and S. Taylor. Proteomes of the Past: The Pursuit of Proteins in Paleontology. Expert Review of Proteomics. Published online before print, December 12, 2019.
2. Pappas, S. 280-Million-Year-Old Fossil Forest Discovered in … Antarctica. LiveScience. Posted on livescience.com November 15, 2017, accessed December 16, 2019.
Eighty-Five Reports of Biological Remnants in Fossils
The Latest
Make Plans to Attend Our Estate Planning Workshop at the Discovery...
Did you know that up to 75% of Americans over 18 have no retirement or estate plans? Don’t wait to prepare for the future. Join us on Saturday, October...
Fossil Confusion in Ethiopia: Are Evolutionary Trees Built on...
A new study published in Nature describes the discovery of 13 fossilized teeth from the Ledi-Geraru site in Ethiopia. They have been dated to between...
The Only Mesozoic Dragonfly in Canada—Is a Dragonfly
In 2023, an undergraduate student from McGill University discovered a new dragonfly species in Alberta, Canada. In fact, “This is the first ever...
CREATION PODCAST
Dr. Jake Hebert | Journey to ICR | The Creation Podcast: Episode...
ICR’s science staff have spent more than 50 years researching scientific evidence that refutes evolutionary philosophy...
Oldest Evidence of Butterflies
Insects such as the ubiquitous butterfly belong to the huge phylum Arthropoda (creatures having paired, jointed appendages and a chitinous exoskeleton)....
Another Big Mistake in Evolution
The strange and wonderful coelacanth1 has long been a challenge to evolutionists.
The coelacanth has long been hailed as an ancestor...
ICR 2025 Resource Catalog
At the Institute for Creation Research, our mission is not only to conduct research demonstrating how science confirms Scripture but also to share this...
Show Your Love for the ICR Discovery Center on North Texas Giving...
Thursday, September 18, is North Texas Giving Day! We invite you to join others in supporting ICR’s unique ministry as well as our creation museum...
Living Gyroscope in Flies
The lowly fruit fly (Drosophila) is the research biologist’s friend in fields such as biomedical science, genetics, and developmental biology....
Turning Point Founder Charlie Kirk Is Now with the Lord
Courageous Christian and creation supporter Charlie Kirk was murdered on September 10, 2025, while speaking at a Turning Point USA event held at Utah...