Bone Cancer Rates in Dinosaurs Compared with Modern Vertebrates

TL;DR

This study compares bone cancer rates in dinosaurs with modern vertebrates using radiological data, finding no significant difference, and thus does not support ionizing radiation as a factor in the K-T extinction.

Contribution

It provides a statistical comparison of bone cancer prevalence between dinosaurs and modern vertebrates, addressing a potential link to extinction causes.

Findings

No significant difference in bone cancer rates

Ionizing radiation unlikely to be a cause of K-T extinction

Supports similar cancer susceptibility across species

Abstract

Data on the prevalence of bone cancer in dinosaurs is available from past radiological examination of preserved bones. We statistically test this data for consistency with rates extrapolated from information on bone cancer in modern vertebrates, and find that there is no evidence of a different rate. Thus, this test provides no support for a possible role of ionizing radiation in the K-T extinction event.