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Oldest Known Fossil-Microorganisms

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Sun 12 Sep 2021
Published 4 years ago.
Updated 2 years ago.
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micro organisms cells background
micro organisms cells background

Oldest Known Fossil-Microorganisms

3.42 Billion BCE
3.42 to 3.7 Billion BCE

The earliest known life on Earth are fossilized microorganisms found in hydrothermal vent precipitates. Currently dated to about 3.42 billion BCE. These microorganisms were prokaryote cells. Single celled organisms with no nucleus and had early simple DNA. More complex DNA in a nucleus evolved about 1.5 billion years later in Eukaryotic cells, circa 2 billion BCE.

  • Domain: Bacteria or Archaea > Kingdom: Various

— map / TST —

Michael Alan Prestwood
Author & Natural Philosopher
Prestwood writes on science-first philosophy, with particular attention to the convergence of disciplines. Drawing on his TST Framework, his work emphasizes rational inquiry grounded in empirical observation while engaging questions at the edges of established knowledge. With TouchstoneTruth positioned as a living touchstone, this work aims to contribute reliable, evolving analysis in an emerging AI era where the credibility of information is increasingly contested.
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