Ancient tissue found in 195 million-year-old dinosaur rib

By Ashley Strickland, CNN

Updated 1609 GMT (0009 HKT) February 3, 2017

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The fossil of 195-million-year-old dinosaur Lufengosaurus preserved as found in the ground in Yunnan Province, China. Researchers discovered ancient collagen and protein in one of its ribs.
Photos: China's dinosaur discoveries
The fossil of 195-million-year-old dinosaur Lufengosaurus preserved as found in the ground in Yunnan Province, China. Researchers discovered ancient collagen and protein in one of its ribs.
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An artist impression of the Limusaurus. The Ostrich-sized dinosaur was found in Xinjiang in China's far west. Researchers say it lost its teeth as it matured.
Photos: China's dinosaur discoveries
An artist impression of the Limusaurus. The Ostrich-sized dinosaur was found in Xinjiang in China's far west. Researchers say it lost its teeth as it matured.
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An artist's impression of the feathered Tongtianlong limosus or 'mud dragon' dinosaur.<a href="http://cnn.com/2016/11/11/world/dinosaur-china-dynamite-construction-workers/"> A paper on its discovery</a> was published in Nature Scientific Reports on November 10, 2016.
Photos: China's dinosaur discoveries
An artist's impression of the feathered Tongtianlong limosus or 'mud dragon' dinosaur. A paper on its discovery was published in Nature Scientific Reports on November 10, 2016.
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The <a href="http://cnn.com/2015/12/11/asia/china-new-dinosaur-fossils/">discovery of the hualianceratops</a>, from the same family of dinosaurs as the triceratops, was announced December 9 2015. Its fossils were discovered in the Gobi Desert, western China.
Photos: China's dinosaur discoveries
Hualianceratops – The discovery of the hualianceratops, from the same family of dinosaurs as the triceratops, was announced December 9 2015. Its fossils were discovered in the Gobi Desert, western China.
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In 2005, paleotologist Xu Xing and a group Chinese paleontologists <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070611/full/news070611-9.html" target="_blank">excavated the bones of this giant bird-like dinosaur</a>. It's believed to be 8 meters long and weigh 1.4 tons. Its arms were long and legs were bird-like.
Photos: China's dinosaur discoveries
Gigantoraptor – In 2005, paleotologist Xu Xing and a group Chinese paleontologists excavated the bones of this giant bird-like dinosaur. It's believed to be 8 meters long and weigh 1.4 tons. Its arms were long and legs were bird-like.
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Revealed in 1996, this was the very first feathered fossil to be unearthed and offered the first evidence that birds are descended from dinosaurs.
Photos: China's dinosaur discoveries
Sinosauropteryx – Revealed in 1996, this was the very first feathered fossil to be unearthed and offered the first evidence that birds are descended from dinosaurs.
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