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Since fossils are largely bone, is it related to osteoporosis being more prominent in females (usually)?
by jjtheblunt 6y ago
Since fossils are largely bone, is it related to osteoporosis being more prominent in females (usually)?
- bigbubba 6y agoAFAIK bone loss occurs with age in both men and women, but accelerates for women after menopause. But did female dinosaurs have something like menopause?
- simonh 6y agoThe article is about mammals, not dinosaurs.
- ska 6y agoDo we know much about osteoporosis outside of humans, let alone dinosaurs? Seems to be a bit of a jump.
- giantrobot 6y agoFossils aren't bone. They're mineral deposits in the space the bone used to be. In rare cases there might be some original tissue but for the most part fossils are formed from sediment(?) infill. Preserved bones are...bones and not fossils. Think of fossilization like lost-wax casting.
- jjtheblunt 6y agoExcellent point. I hadn't thought of it, but knew it as a kid, when I read your comment.