Mary Higby Schweitzer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Higby Schweitzer
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Paleontology |
Mary Higby Schweitzer is an American paleontologist. She studies ancient life, especially dinosaurs. She is famous for finding amazing things inside dinosaur fossils. Her team discovered what looked like blood cells and even soft tissues in a Tyrannosaurus rex bone. They also found clues that one T-rex might have been pregnant when it died!
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About Mary Schweitzer
Mary Schweitzer studied at Utah State University. She earned a degree in Communicative Disorders in 1977. Later, she went to Montana State University. There, she got a teaching certificate in science.
She then earned her PhD in Biology in 1995. Her mentor, a famous paleontologist named Jack Horner, guided her studies.
Today, Dr. Schweitzer works at North Carolina State University. She researches molecular paleontology. This field looks at tiny molecules in fossils. She also studies how fossils form and change over time. Her work helps us understand dinosaurs and their bird relatives better.
Amazing Dinosaur Discoveries
In 2000, a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton was found in Montana. It was a huge discovery! After two years of careful digging, a bone from its leg, called a femur, was given to Dr. Schweitzer.
Finding Soft Tissues in Dinosaurs
In 2007, Dr. Schweitzer made a groundbreaking discovery. She was the first person to find and separate soft tissues from an ancient fossil bone. These soft tissues included collagen. Collagen is a type of protein that connects parts of the body.
Scientists studied these proteins very closely. They found that the proteins from the T-rex were similar to those found in chickens and frogs. This was a big surprise! It showed that some parts of dinosaurs might have lasted for millions of years.
Dr. Schweitzer also found organic compounds in sauropod eggshells. These are chemical building blocks of life. Her work changed how scientists thought about fossils. It showed that more than just bones can survive over time.
Debates and Confirmations
When Dr. Schweitzer first announced her findings, some scientists were doubtful. They thought it was impossible for soft tissues to last so long. Other studies were done to check her work.
Some research questioned if the material was truly soft tissue. However, later studies supported Dr. Schweitzer's original findings. It has now been confirmed that proteins and cell-like structures can be found in dinosaur fossils. This is a huge step for understanding ancient life.
Dr. Schweitzer also found that iron particles might help preserve soft tissue. This is part of a new field called paleoproteomics. It studies ancient proteins.
Awards and Special Honors
Dr. Mary Schweitzer has received several awards for her important work.
Elizabeth Nicholls Award
On April 28, 2018, she received the Dr. Elizabeth 'Betsy' Nicholls Award. This award celebrates excellence in paleontology. Dr. Schweitzer was the first person to ever receive it. She gave a speech about her research at the award ceremony.
Avimaia schweitzerae
In 2019, a new extinct bird was named after her. It was called "Avimaia schweitzerae". This was done to honor Dr. Schweitzer. It recognized her amazing work on dinosaur bones and for helping create the field of molecular paleontology.
