CUHK Research: Changing the world

Dinosaur-to-bird transition F o r t h e p a s t 1 5 0 y e a r s , v e r t e b r a t e palaeontologists have focused on the study of bones of dinosaurs and other prehistoric life. There are a lot of gaps to be filled in understanding prehistoric ecology, such as how dinosaurs moved, their diverse lifestyles, and how some dinosaur species including early birds developed the ability to fly. The lack of data has given rise to speculations and myths. At CUHK, Professor Michael Pittman, a leading scientist in the field of vertebrate palaeontology, has been using innovative technology to revolutionise our understanding of prehistoric life. “Birds are a type of dinosaur. I am interested in how dinosaurs that could only walk and run became ones that were able to fly,” he says. “This is a key evolutionary transition, arguably the most important one since fish walked out of water. My grand challenge is to plug important gaps in our understanding of the dinosaur-to-bird transition that have puzzled scientists for years.” New light on fossils Professor Pittman’s team first introduced l ase r- st imu l ated f l uo rescence (LSF ) technology in palaeontology in 2017. Before the application, ultraviolet imaging was the closest method used to study fossils. The groundbreaking LSF technique co- developed by Professor Pittman is able to expose hidden anatomy preserved in fossils. Michael Pittman Assistant Professor of Life Sciences Palaeontology Putting dinosaur flesh back on the bones 80