Eukaryotes have a nucleus that contains DNA, an important feature that allows for more complex organization. Although their emergence is believed to have occurred approximately 2 billion years ago, new data pushes this time period back significantly.
A research team led by paleontologist Lee Ann Readman analyzed 1.64 billion-year-old fossils from Australia. They identified 26 different taxa, including 10 completely new species, showing surprising diversity at such an early stage.
One of the fossils, Limbunyasphaera operculata, showed a common feature seen in modern microbes: a protective cyst with a closed opening. This suggests that eukaryotes developed complex survival strategies much earlier.
Other fossils surprised researchers with their more complex structures. Satka favosa had a membrane-lined sac with plate-like structures; This likely indicates the existence of a Golgi complex responsible for sorting materials within the cell, a critical function of modern eukaryotes.
What’s next? The search for even older fossils continues and may reveal more information about the fascinating and complex early life on Earth.
Source: Ferra
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