The Challenge Factory discussion
Coding the Dinosaur DNA
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VampAmber Examines Dinosaur DNA
Mod
1. Allosaurus
2. Apatosaurus
4. Archaeopteryx
5. Brachiosaurus
7. Coelophysis
11. Gallimimus
14. Spinosaurus
16. Therizinosaurus
Mod
I'm in no hurry, so I'd prefer to try to tackle them all. And I'm a little bit biased, so I'd like to start with my current favorite, the Ankylosaurus (even if my spell check disagrees). 😆
Mod
Mod
* Common name: Ankylosaurus
* Type of dinosaur: Ornithischian
* Size: 26 ft./8m
* Period: Late Cretaceous
Ankylosaurus is one of the most famous armored dinosaurs. It was the largest ankylosaurid, and the last of its kind – it is thought to have lived right up to the end of the Cretaceous Period.
The body of Ankylosaurus was covered in bony plates. It had a beak and teeth, and four horns that projected backwards from its head. Its tail ended in a club, which provided protection from predators. This would have been useful; Ankylosaurus lived alongside Tyrannosaurus.
To identify this dinosaur, complete one of the following:
1. read the last book in a trilogy or series
2. read a book published in 2000 (the last year of the 20th century)
3. read a book where you can only see the back of someone's head
4. read a book where the MC has an enemy
5. read a book tagged 'History', 'Historical' or 'Historical Fiction'
Completion Post (#1 of 20)Is the DNA: Ankylosaurus?
Task: #5 - read a book tagged 'History', 'Historical' or 'Historical Fiction'
Book: What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
Pages: 158
How it Fits: it takes place in the 1890s
Mod
I'm sorry. The DNA isn't from the Ankylosaurus.
Which dinosaur would you like to examine next?
Let's try my childhood favorite: Diplodocus.
Mod
*Common name: Diplodocus
* Type of dinosaur: Sauropod
* Size: 79 ft./24 m
* Period: Late Jurassic
A sauropod dinosaur, Diplodocus was typical of its type, being a huge, four-legged, plant-eating animal with a long neck and whip-like tail.
Diplodocus may have had a row of triangular spikes running along its back.
The structure of the peg-like teeth of Diplodocus suggest that it grasped a branch in its mouth, then moved its head up or down to strip foliage from the branch.
With a center of gravity located near its hips, Diplodocus is likely to have been able to rear up on its hind legs, using its tail as support. This would have allowed the dinosaur to reach foliage located high up in the trees.
To identify this dinosaur, complete one of the following:
1. read a book with '4' in the page count
2. read a book from the Literary Love Triangles (Non-YA) list
3. read a book with UP or DOWN in the title (can be part of a word)
4. read a book with trees on the cover
5. read a book tagged 'History', 'Historical' or "Historical Fiction'
Completion Post (#2 of 20)Is the DNA: Diplodocus?
Task: 4. read a book with trees on the cover
Book: Corpse Pose by Diana Killian
Pages: 281
How it Fits: there's a forest outside the window
Mod
I'm sorry. The DNA isn't from the Diplodocus.
Which dinosaur would you like to examine next?
Let's try Velociraptor next, they seem pretty smart. 😁
Mod
* Common name: Velociraptor
* Type of dinosaur: theropod
* Size: 6.5 ft/2m
* Period: Late Cretaceous
Many depictions of Velociraptor, including those in Jurassic Park, suggest that it was taller than a man. In fact, Velociraptor was turkey-sized, standing around 1.6 ft./50 cm tall and 6.5 ft./2m long.
Another inaccuracy in the Jurassic Park velociraptors is that they are portrayed without feathers. Velociraptor is now known to have had both feathers, and wings. It is thought that the ancestors of Velociraptor may have been able to fly. (Velociraptor itself is thought to be flightless.)
One each of Velociraptor’s feet was a 3.5 in./9 cm killing claw. Armed with such formidable weapons, Velociraptor would have been a proficient hunter. In one famous fossil, a Velociraptor is fighting a Protoceratops.
To identify this dinosaur, complete one of the following:
1. read a book with something that is taller than a man on the cover
2. read a book with a MC that has a pet bird
3. read a book where the MC travels through the air (in an airplane, helicopter, spaceship, on a broom or magic carpet, or rescued by a Great Eagle :)
4. read a book where the MC might be armed with a weapon
5. read a book tagged 'History', 'Historical" or "Historical Fiction'
Completion Post (#3 of 20)Is the DNA: Velociraptor?
Task: 1. read a book with something that is taller than a man on the cover
Book: Death of an Irish Mummy by Catie Murphy
Pages: 274
How it Fits: the church in the background is multiple stories tall
Mod
I'm sorry. The DNA isn't from the Velociraptor.
Which dinosaur would you like to examine next?
I'm gonna try for Stegosaurus, just because they're cute. I'm sure they don't usually get described as cute, so I think they deserve it. ^_^
Mod
*shrugs shoulders* Cute is in the eyes of the beholder. I guess. :D
Mod
* Common name: Stegosaurus
* Type of dinosaur: Ornithischian
* Size: 30 ft./9m
* Period: Late Jurassic
Most people can identify a Stegosaurus due to the distinctive plates that run along the dinosaur’s back. The plates may have offered a means of defense against predators or played a part in keeping the dinosaur’s body at the correct temperature. Today, it is thought the plates’ most likely function is that they were used in display, to signify dominance and to attract a mate.
Even if the plates’ primary function wasn’t defense, Stegosaurus was by no means defenseless. Its tail was equipped with four long (up to 3 ft./1.5 m) spikes. In many specimens, the spikes are worn or damaged, suggesting that they were used in combat when the dinosaur was alive.
To identify this dinosaur, complete one of the following:
1. read a book where the MC uses a disguise to hide his/her identity
2. read a book from the Dishes on the Cover list
3. read a book with a season in the title (Spring, Summer, Fall, Autumn, Winter)
4. read the 4th book in a series
5. read a book tagged 'History', 'Historical" or "Historical Fiction'
Completion Post (#4 of 20)Is the DNA: Stegosaurus?
Task: 5. read a book tagged 'History', 'Historical" or "Historical Fiction'
Book: Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Pages: 315
How it Fits: it takes place in 1993 (I feel so old, stuff taking place in the 90s being considered "historical fiction")
Mod
Yikes! Me, too!
Mod
I'm sorry. The DNA isn't from the Stegosaurus.
Which dinosaur would you like to examine next?
I'll try Parasaurolophus, because I've never heard of those, but that is one seriously... unique name... yeah... 🤨
Mod
I have no idea how to pronounce that :)
Mod
* Common name: Parasaurolophus
* Type of dinosaur: Ornithischian
* Size: 31 ft./9 m
* Period: Late Cretaceous
Parasaurolophus is one of the most famous hadrosaurid, or “duck-billed”, dinosaurs. Its name, which means “near/almost crested lizard”, refers to its being a close relative of Saurolophus. (Saurolophus, another hadrosaurid, appeared around 3 million years after Parasaurolophus.)
Parasaurolophus was a plant eating browser, able to walk on either two or four legs. It had a large, backwards-curving crest on the back of its head. Tubes ran from the nostrils to the crest, which may have been used to produce sounds.
To identify this dinosaur, complete one of the following:
1. read a book set in Australia (where the duck-billed platypuses are)
2. read a book with all the letters of ALMOST in the title
3. read a book from the Half a million ratings to a million ratings list
4. listen to an audio book
5. read a book tagged 'History', 'Historical' or 'Historical Fiction'
Completion Post (#5 of 20)Is the DNA: Parasaurolophus?
Task: 5. read a book tagged 'History', 'Historical" or "Historical Fiction'
Book: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Pages: 206
How it Fits: It takes place from 1941-42.
Mod
I'm sorry. The DNA isn't from the Parasaurolophus.
Which dinosaur would you like to examine next?
After that mouthful of a name, let's go with something almost everybody knows: Brontosaurus.
Mod
Mod
* Common name: Brontosaurus
* Type of dinosaur: Sauropod
* 72 ft./22 m
* Period: Late Jurassic
Brontosaurus is one of the most famous sauropod dinosaurs, but for many years wasn’t actually considered to be a valid genus. This is because, after Brontosaurus had been named, it was decided that the specimen was, in fact, an Apatosaurus.
Apatosaurus had been named first, and when naming species, the rule is that the first name is the one that should be used. Therefore, Brontosaurus should have been renamed Apatosaurus.
Research carried out in the 21st century suggests that Brontosaurus is sufficiently different to Apatosaurus to be considered a genus in its own right. Therefore, Brontosaurus was again considered to be an “official” dinosaur, although not all paleontologists agree with this decision.
To identify this dinosaur, complete one of the following:
1. read a book that has been republished with a different title
2. read the first book in a duology, trilogy, or series
3. read a book published in the 21st century
4. read a book with an official as a significant character (an official is a person holding public office, having official duties, or holds a position of authority in an organization)
5. read a book tagged 'History', 'Historical' or 'Historical Fiction'
Completion Post (#6 of 20)Is the DNA: Brontosaurus?
Task: 3. read a book published in the 21st century
Book: Yurei: The Japanese Ghost by Zack Davisson
Pages: 213
How it Fits: It was first published in 2015
Mod
I'm sorry. The DNA isn't from the Brontosaurus.
Which dinosaur would you like to examine next?
I just saw the cutest Squishmallow of this one, and since I don't need any more of them, I'll just have to pick Triceratops here instead. *is probably addicted to Squishmallows*
Mod
Mod
* Common name: Triceratops
* Type of dinosaur: Ornithischian
* Size: 30 ft./9m
* Period: Late Cretaceous
Triceratops was a large, powerful, plant-eating dinosaur that lived in what is now North America. It is one of the most famous dinosaurs, and one of the most recognizable, due to its three horns (one on its snout, the other two at the top of its face), and the large bony shield that extends backwards from the back of the skull.
The horns and shield may have been defensive adaptations against predators (Triceratops lived alongside fearsome predators such as Tyrannosaurus Rex), but they may have been used for courtship or establishing dominance against other Triceratops.
To identify this dinosaur, complete one of the following:
1. read a book with a large or powerful MC
2. read a book from the Books with Fictional Vegetarian or Vegan Characters list
3. read a book with a three word title (including articles)
4. read a book with 'horns' or 'shield' in the text of the book
5. read a book tagged 'History', 'Historical" or "Historical Fiction'
Completion Post (#7 of 20)Is the DNA: Triceratops?
Task: 3. read a book with a three word title (including articles)
Book: The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
Pages: 418
How it Fits: the title has three words in it
Mod
Mod
I'm sorry. The DNA isn't from the Triceratops.
Which dinosaur would you like to examine next?
No worries, I'm just glad you're back to feeling good enough to visit GoodReads again. Try to be careful and take it easy just in case, though, cuz we're about to hit the plague months again. I expect to be sick at least two or three times by the time spring properly gets here, myself. And for my dinosaur, I think I'm going to go for the one that sounds like it could be a species from Doctor Who for some reason, the Troodon. I'm so hearing that in Ten's voice, I swear. Allons-y!
Mod
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Mod
* Common name: Troodon
* Type of dinosaur: Theropod
* Size: 6.5 ft./2 m
* Period: Late Cretaceous
Troodon means “wounding tooth”, a name that comes from the dinosaur’s serrated teeth. The teeth were the first Troodon specimens to be found.
Most paleontologists believe that Troodon was a predator, with large eyes and one of the biggest brains in relation to body size of any dinosaur.
An opposing view is that Troodon’s serrated teeth were used to slice through leaves rather than meat, and that the dinosaur was an omnivore.
To identify this dinosaur, complete one of the following:
1. read a book the MC gets physically wounded
2. read a book with something on the cover that has a jagged edge (serrated)
3. read a book where the MC is considered intelligent
4. read a book from the Polar Opposites list
5. read a book tagged 'History', 'Historical' or 'Historical Fiction'
It's a mutant chicken! I love it! 😍😍😍
For number four, does it count if I added the book, because it fits with the list (lost/found in the title)?
Mod
Sure.
Completion Post (#8 of 20)Is the DNA: Troodon?
Task: 4. read a book from the Polar Opposites list
Book: Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire
Pages: 143
How it Fits: Lost and Found are total opposites
Mod
I'm sorry. The DNA isn't from the Troodon.
Which dinosaur would you like to examine next?
Let's try the most creatively named one of them all: Giganotosaurus! 😆
Mod
Mod
* Common name: Giganotosaurus
* Type of dinosaur: Theropod
* Size: 39 ft./12 m
* Period: Late Cretaceous
Giganotosaurus was a large, meat-eating dinosaur that lived in South America in the Late Cretaceous.
It’s possible that this fearsome dinosaur was the largest land carnivore ever to have lived; some paleontologists estimate its length could have exceeded 49 ft./15 m.
This famous dinosaur had crest-like ridges on the skull in front of the eyes.
To identify this dinosaur, complete one of the following:
1. read a book set in South America
2. read a book Size Matters! list
3. read a book with "fearsome" in the text of the book
4. read a book with a close-up of eyes on the cover
5. read a book tagged 'History', 'Historical' or 'Historical Fiction'
The Challenge Factory
Books mentioned in this topic
America's Most Haunted Hotels: Checking In with Uninvited Guests (other topics)Solutions and Other Problems (other topics)
Unexplained: Real-Life Supernatural Stories for Uncertain Times (other topics)
Lost in the Moment and Found (other topics)
The Diamond Eye (other topics)
More...
Dr. Grant, thank you for coming all the way to Costa Rica to examine the DNA. We hope you will enjoy your time here at the biological preserve on Isla Nublar. You should have no worries for your safety. *cue eerie music that will cause shivers up and down your spine*
Your task is to code the dinosaur DNA (read one task from the five tasks given for a dinosaur). You will then post on the DNA Verification thread asking for confirmation whether you have successfully deduced the correct DNA.
If you have not, you will then read for the next dinosaur.
Before you begin the process, I will ask how many dinosaurs you wish to read for. There are 20 possible matches to the unidentified DNA. This number will be noted in your Completion Posts.
HOW TO PLAY:
1. Take a look at the list of dinosaurs.
2. Choose your first extinct reptile and post it into your thread.
3. The moderator will then post the related information and tasks.
4. When you have read one of the tasks, post on your thread the following:
Completion Post (#? of ?)
Is the DNA (dinosaur name goes here)?
Task:
Book:
Pages:
How it Fits:
5. And then leave a message on the DNA Verification thread.
Rules:
* Books must be at least 140 pages.
* You can use or ignore 'a', 'an, 'the'
* Page count for audio books will be determined the first paper version shown on Goodreads. On the book's page, select “all editions”, then use the first paper edition to determine the page number.