Theropod Dinosaurs Evolved Into Birds? Not Likely, Says Study

Paleontologists and some in biology have long believed that modern birds are the direct descendants of ancient, meat-eating dinosaurs. Researchers at Oregon State University contend they have made a fundamental new discovery about how birds breathe and have a lung capacity that allows for flight – and the finding means it's unlikely that birds descended from any known theropod dinosaurs. It's been known for decades that the femur, or thigh bone in birds is largely fixed and makes birds into "knee runners," unlike virtually all other land animals, the OSU experts say. What was just discovered, however, is that it's this fixed position of bird bones and musculature that keeps their air-sac lung from collapsing when the bird inhales. read more

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