Uncovering Ancient Earth Through Molecular Fossils: A New Strategy
Scientists have recently uncovered evidence of a major shift in ancient life that occurred about 540 million years ago. This shift is known as the Cambrian Explosion, and it marks the transition from single-celled organisms to more complex life forms. To understand the cause of this shift, researchers have turned to molecular fossils, which are molecules that can be preserved in the fossil record for millions of years. By analyzing these molecules, scientists can learn about the environment and the organisms that lived during this time. The most recent findings suggest that the Cambrian Explosion was predated by a shift in the types of molecules that were present in the environment. This shift in molecule composition allowed for the evolution of more complex and diverse life forms, leading to the Cambrian Explosion.
source: Phys.org