Article: An application of critical point drying to the comparison of modern and fossilized soft tissues of fishes

Critical-point-dried samples of recent biological soft tissues can be used to make accurate comparisons with exceptionally well-preserved fossil material. This technique has distinct advantages over thin sections of biological tissues, as palaeontologists are often more familiar with observing three-dimensionally preserved material. This technique offers important opportunities for comparative taphonomic and anatomical studies, especially for palaeontologists working with exceptionally well-preserved soft tissues such as may be found in early diagenetic concretions.