Photosynthesis has truly ancient origins

• Autores: Jeff Hecht
• Localización: New scientist, ISSN 0262-4079, Nº. 2905, 2013, pág. 9
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Hecht talks about the world's oldest sedimentary rocks, which suggest an early form of photosynthesis may have evolved almost 3.8 billion years ago, not long after life appeared on Earth. A hallmark of photosynthesis in plants is that the process splits water and produces oxygen gas. The world's oldest sedimentary rocks--a class of rock that can preserve evidence of life--are a logical place to look, says Andrew Czaja of the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. These rocks, which are found in Greenland and date back almost 3.8 billion years, contain vast deposits of iron oxide that are a puzzle.