The project will attempt to analyze the proteins in the calcite of foraminifera in order to identify proteins which are species specific. If the initial results are confirmed by results of this research, the proteins may act as "fingerprints" of individual species. If so, the evolution of true species may be traced in the fossil record rather than using morphologically- defined species which actually may not be different species. Therefore the fossil lineage of individual species may be traced in the geologic record.
