Question

what are the difference between isotopes and biomarkers and how each cab be used to identify characteristics of fossils?

Answer 1

Difference between isotopes and biomarkers Page 1 13 C 12 6C . 6 Isotope → Isotopes are simply different attoms as with the same chemical behavior but with different it masses. Example - Carbon is composed of three different is o lopes Each of the two or more forms of the same element that contain equal no of protons but different nu neutrons in the in nuclei and hence diffier in the ww relative atomie but in chemical properties in particular a radio active from of an element , known as isotopes or rogolo no mass not are Biomarkers : Biomarkers (also termed Chemical fossils, molecular markers, indicators or organie tracers) specific organic compounds which are useful in as assessing the gonetic sources of lipidic or a measurable indicator of some biological state or condition such as disease, normal o biological processes, pher maeologie beesponses o fossil stway ete: Example Anti body, Xenobiotie agent, specific gene ر ete. act as a biomarkers.

Isotopes use in fossils identification: Page 2 or ura di o isotope ar vels of Rediometrie datings radioactive dating dating is a technique which is used to date materials such or carbon, in which trale vradioactive impurities were seleetively incorporated when they were formed. The method compaires the abundance natwally ocurring uradio active isotope within the material or fossil. sity Radioactive Isotopes help to collect information about the absolute Possilized life fossil including the . age forams fuel isotope so no other radio active ell in this Possil kada plays a crucial role in studing. Carbon dioxide on emission of well. Fossil fuel are millions years old has de cayed aday to learing organic matter. Scientists can use e14 measurement to determine the age of cor in air scomple and de calculate what proportion of CD2 in the sample form fossil fuel. The presenee of different type isotope in four il gives information about geochemical of processes. form this cam comes the Use of biomarkers Chara etorisation of fossil- usefull in assessing the genetic > . Biomarkers are speelfie organie compounds cwhich sources of lipidie or bituminous organic matter. Biomarker in geological samples products derived form from biochemical precursors by mainly are

Page 3 vreductive but also oxidative alteration processes (choles tomes form cholesterol). The information give sary chemical structure of blomarkers which helps about precursor compound in contempo- or extinet biota. as Indicators of The utility of biomarkers biogenie pales environment process on Earth has widely been and go geochemical accepted.
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