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Dinosaur family tree offers new insight into rapid rise of birds
Dinosaur and chicken
The arrival of birds some 150 million years ago was a gradual process, as some dinosaurs became ever-more bird-like over time.

Arrival of birds some 150 million years ago was a gradual process

A comprehensive family tree of meat-eating dinosaurs is enabling scientists at the University of Edinburgh to discover key details about how birds evolved from them.

The study has revealed that the familiar anatomical features of birds, such as wings, feathers and wishbones, all first evolved gradually in their dinosaur ancestors millions of years ago.

However, an evolutionary explosion began once a fully functioning bird body shape was complete - causing a rapid increase in the rate at which birds evolved. Eventually this led to the thousands of avian species that we know today.

To create the family tree, the researchers examined the anatomical make-up of over 850 body features in 150 extinct species. They then used statistical techniques to analyse their findings and assemble a detailed family tree.

The researchers say that, based on their findings from fossil records, the arrival of birds some 150 million years ago was a gradual process, as some dinosaurs became ever-more bird-like over time.   For this reason, it is difficult for scientists to draw a dividing line on the family tree between dinosaurs and birds.

The findings, published in the journal Current Biology, support a controversial theory proposed in the 1940s - that
a surge in evolution can follow the emergence of new body shapes in groups of species.

Dr Steve Brusatte, who led the study, said: "There was no moment in time when a dinosaur became a bird, and there is no single missing link between them. What we think of as the classic bird skeleton was pieced together gradually over tens of millions of years. Once it came together fully, it unlocked great evolutionary potential that allowed birds to evolve at a super-charged rate."

Dr Graeme Lloyd, from the University of Oxford, said: "Our study adds to a growing number of works that approach this problem from different angles, but all seem to confirm that the origin of birds was a truly special event in Earth history. It is particularly cool that it is evidence from the fossil record that shows how an oddball offshoot of the dinosaurs paved the way for the spectacular variety of grid species we see today."

Image (C) University of Edinburgh/Jason Brougham

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.