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Science In Action: 'Dreadnought' Dino

At 26m from head to tail, Dreadnoughtus was longer than two London buses parked end to end

04/09/2014

'Dreadnought' Dino

BBC World Service - Science In Action, 'Dreadnought' Dino

Super massive dinosaur species discovered in southern Argentina

The discovery of 'Dreadnought' Dino; Engineering microbes to make propane in the lab; Opium-making bacteria; Snail fur and growing limbs.

A new type of super massive dinosaur species has been discovered in southern Patagonia, Argentina. Led by Professor Kenneth Lacovara from Drexel University, Philadelphia, a team of palaeontologists has confirmed that the fossilised skeleton belongs to the largest land animal ever recorded.

Lab Made Propane
Researchers have successfully engineered microbes to make propane. Often known as liquid petroleum or LPG it is only found as a fossil fuel, so this feat opens the possibility of producing it as a biofuel instead. Dr Patrik Jones, Imperial College London, was part of the team responsible for the work published in Nature Communications and Dr Chris Grant, University College London, is an expert in this field.

Opium-making Bacteria
Altered forms of simple life can also be used to make drugs and medicines. Using engineered yeast, scientists are now developing a method to make morphine and other opiates. Dr Christina Smolke from Stanford University in California says making these crucial drugs could reduce our dependence on traditional poppy processing. 

Snail Fur and Growing Limbs
Some animals can regrow lost body parts. One of the best studied 'regenerators' is the sea creature Hydractinia, or Snail fur, because it grows like fur on the back of the snail-shell homes of hermit crabs. By studying Hydractinia's regenerative powers at the cellular level, researchers think that most animals, including humans, may have the potential to regrow lost limbs using stem cell systems lying dormant within us. Tracey Logan reports.

(Image caption: At 26m from head to tail, Dreadnoughtus was longer than two London buses parked end to end © M.Klingler, Carnegie Museum)


Presenter: Jack Stewart
Producer:  Ania Lichtarowicz

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