An upset in Evolution and a Stepping-Stone to the Future

Julie Lipp Fullmer

Biology 1610

3-17-2017

An upset in Evolution and a stepping-stone to the future

Evolution is more than a look at where we are from; it involves the knowledge that protects us presently and is a map about where we are headed in our future. Evolution provides maps and answers to emerging diseases, adaptable or quick evolving viruses like HIV, life-saving vaccines, insight to how people become antibiotic resistant and gives direction for drug development.

Discovering information regarding the evolution of cells, which overturns or gives deeper insights to our current understanding, making us reconsider when multi-cellular nucleated forms came to be (eukaryotes), can alter how we view evolution as a whole and change the mapping of the "tree of life." New research could give us information on the cells we work with and study today.

Algae are considered to be one of the first representations of multi-cellular eukaryotes, which emerged from prokaryotes. This evolution was believed to have occurred 1.6 billion years ago.

Recently in India, a team of Swedish Scientist claimed to have found two types of probable red algae; fleshy algae with a multilayered gathering of cells and a tube-shaped variety, in plates of cyanobacteria, which is believed to be the first oxygen- producing life-forms on Earth. Oxygen is part of the eukaryotes energy process.  There was no DNA remaining due to the preservation and time that has passed, so no DNA confirmation that it is red algae can be made. However, paraphrasing Dr. Stefan Bengston, a Swedish Palaeozoologist, “While there is no DNA evidence, the structures bear a strong resemblance to that of red algae. “

The team of scientists excavated the fossils through a proven technique of dissolving the adjoining rock using acetic acid.  They then used synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy, which provides a nondestructive process to create a three-dimensional representation of the algae fossils. These models help to make out the interior cellular compositions that the algae used to generate energy.

To determine the period the algae fossils came from, they implemented the chiefly used technique by scientists called radioactive dating. It contrasts the quantities of radioactive isotopes naturally found in the material measured with the number of its decay products (which form at a known constant rate of decay), this equation is claimed to produce the absolute age of geological features such as fossils.

While some scientists reviewing this evidence believe this finding doesn’t have enough proof yet, others are raising the questions of what this will mean for science if it proves to be true. The information dates eukaryotes back another half billion years, which is close to the time oxygen came into play. Our current evidence showing when animals and plants came into existence is further in the future showing that the evolution of eukaryotes to bigger organisms was a longer process that we now believe.  Bret Stetka, University of Virginia Med Grad wrote, " Current science discoveries reveal it wasn’t until 600 million and 500 million years ago that higher level plants and animals began to evolve."

The question Wilson Taylor, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Biology chair then asks, if it proved true “ Why did it take another billion years for larger, more complex organisms to flourish. “ Bengston furthers it by asking, why did they linger in the sea for so long before coming to land?” The questions background originates from the current science that "plants made their way to shore, shaping a new landscape that evolved into complex fungi, plants and eventually terrestrial animals."

The timeline for these questions has yet to be discovered, but this possible discovery could be the stepping-stone needed to make these connections and determine an actual evolutionary timeline.

Having just studied prokaryotes and eukaryotes I feel like I can understand this discussion a little more than I would have otherwise, including what their different functions mean for our society, like medical advances and space exploration. It is exciting to see more developments being discovered right now, while I’m learning about these very subjects. I’ve also had the questions in my mind forever: How did we get here? How did it all happen? What does evolution mean for how life evolves on other planets, and how it changes the medicines and medical discoveries we will make today and in the future?

These questions are why I feel like it touches on things that are important to the whole world, and is also why this subject captured my attention. This discovery could change how we use science.  It will mean we have to update the science we currently know, and it will give us answers to some of the questions asked. Where do we come from, how did we get here, and how does life evolve, what might this mean for medical advances? All of these questions may be answered in more depth than we currently understand with this new information.

Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/complex-life-could-be-vastly-older-than-thought/