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The history of life on Earth traces the processes by which living and extinct organisms evolved, from the earliest emergence of life to the present day. Earth formed about 4.5 billion years ago (abbreviated as Ga, for gigaannum) and evidence suggests that life emerged prior to 3.7 Ga. [1] [2] [3] The similarities among all known present-day species indicate that they have diverged through the ...
At long irregular intervals, ... The first known mass extinction was the Great Oxidation Event 2.4 billion years ago, ... [27] Probable origin of life. 4000 Ma
Therefore, the earliest time for the origin of life on Earth is at most 3.5 billion years ago, possibly as early as 4.1 billion years ago — not long after the oceans formed 4.5 billion years ago and after the formation of the Earth 4.54 billion years ago. [7]
The simpler anoxygenic form arose about 3.8 Ga, not long after the appearance of life. The timing of oxygenic photosynthesis is more controversial; it had certainly appeared by about 2.4 Ga, but some researchers put it back as far as 3.2 Ga. [107] The latter "probably increased global productivity by at least two or three orders of magnitude".
Two species are described in the literature: A. ramidus, which lived about 4.4 million years ago [32] during the early Pliocene, and A. kadabba, dated to approximately 5.6 million years ago [33] (late Miocene). A. ramidus had a small brain, measuring between 300 and 350 cm 3.
Scientists discovered the oldest known DNA and used it to reveal what life was like 2 million years ago in the northern tip of Greenland. “The study opens the door into a past that has basically ...
The earliest life on Earth arose at least 3.5 billion years ago. [16] [17] [18] Earlier possible evidence of life includes graphite, which may have a biogenic origin, in 3.7-billion-year-old metasedimentary rocks discovered in southwestern Greenland [19] and 4.1-billion-year-old zircon grains in Western Australia. [20] [21]
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