New photonic techniques, including Raman spectroscopy, cofocal scanning laser microscopy, and mass spectronomy, are allowing scientists to reveal details about the evolutionary history of animals. Raman spectrometry and cofocal scanning laser microscopy have allowed scientists insight into the Meischucun assemblage of fossils in China dating from the Cambrian explosion approximately 540 million years ago. This technology allowed scientists to report the characterization of 'small shelly fossils' which lacked identifiable soft tissue, particularly metazoan eggs. This yielded insights into the evolution of 'the oldest complex organisms in the geological record.' This data is unavailable by any other means due to scientists' inability to accurately document the morphology of the organisms in three dimensions or to analyze their chemistry in situ. The two technologies are complementary and are new to paleobiology. A triple-stage laser Raman system, made by Yvon Horiba, was used first to explore how the eggs were preserved. A thin layer of fluorescence-free microscopy oil was applied to the specimen and used to create a two-dimensional image, which was then analyzed. The Raman system enabled micron-scale resolution. A three dimensional image was then created using an Olympus FLUOVIEW 300 cofocal laser scanning biological microscope system, which is easily available in Los Angeles, and which is compatible with the Raman system. The same systems will be used to investigate other materials in the coming months. Mass spectronomy was used to obtain genome sequences from fossilized T. Rex and Mastodon bones, despite the challenges of detecting and analyzing ancient DNA and RNA and its degradation over time. Though scientists have long believed almost all organic matter is destroyed in the process of fossilization, the researchers were able to show that collagen I was preserved in the fossils, though degraded and in very small amounts. A two-step proteomics approach overcame these obstacles. The researchers used a mass spectrometer made by Thermo Electron Corp., which offered maximum sensitivity, though this came at the expense of resolution and accuracy. The research showed that chickens, newts and frogs are dinosaurs' closest living relatives. Scientists hope that further studies will reveal more extensive protein sequences.