Fossils harbor hints of photosynthesis.

FOSSILS; PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Ancient fossils from Australia dating back 1.75 billion years may provide evidence of photosynthesis. These fossilized bacteria contain membrane structures called thylakoids, which are similar to those found in modern cyanobacteria and plants where photosynthesis occurs. The discovery pushes back the evidence of thylakoids in cyanobacteria by 1.2 billion years. This finding is significant because it suggests the possibility of extracting more information about cell biology and morphology from these types of fossils. The fossils also hint at the presence of oxygen-rich pockets during a period when oxygen levels in Earth's atmosphere were low, which may have contributed to the evolution of plants and animals. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Science News is the property of Society for Science & the Public and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)