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Chapter
The Evolution of Life on Earth and in the Universe
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Chapter
Oceanic Pillow Lavas and Hyaloclastites as Habitats for Microbial Life Through Time – A Review
This chapter summarizes research undertaken over the past 15 years upon the microbial alteration of originally glassy basaltic rocks from submarine environments. We report textural, chemical and isotopic resul...
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Chapter
Micro-bioerosion in volcanic glass: extending the ichnofossil record to Archaean basaltic crust
Microbial bioerosion of volcanic glass produces conspicuous ichnofossils in oceanic crusts that are a valuable tracer of sub-surface microorganisms. Two morphologically distinct granular and tubular ichnofossi...
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Chapter
Deciphering Fossil Evidence for the Origin of Life and the Origin of Animals
The origins of major biological groups contain a series of questions that engage all the natural sciences. Too often the different ‘origin’ case studies, such as the origins of animals and of life, are treated...
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Chapter
Looking Through Windows onto the Earliest History of Life on Earth and Mars
We know that planet Earth is about 4.5 billion years old but what is less clear is when it first became home to life. Locating the first evidence for life on Earth is a question of considerable complexity and ...
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Reference Work Entry In depth
Biogenicity
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Chapter
Taphonomy in Temporally Unique Settings: An Environmental Traverse in Search of the Earliest Life on Earth
There is an apparent preservational paradox in the early rock record. Cellularly preserved and ensheathed microfossils which are remarkably preserved from the late Archaean (c.2700 Ma) onward, have rarely been fo...
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Chapter
7.8 Traces of Life
When and how life on Earth started is still an open question. Biochemical fingerprints stored in the ancient rock record indicate the presence of traces of life back to some of the oldest sedimentary rocks on ...
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Reference Work Entry In depth
Biogenicity
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Reference Work Entry In depth
Endogenicity
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Reference Work Entry In depth
Syngenicity
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Reference Work Entry In depth
Archean Traces of Life
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Reference Work Entry In depth
Stromatolites
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Article
Fossil eukaryotes: Fungal origins?
Newly discovered filamentous fossils from 2.4-billion-year-old oceanic lavas suggest that eukaryotes of possible fungal affinity are much older than previously thought.
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Living Reference Work Entry In depth
Endogenicity
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Living Reference Work Entry In depth
Biogenicity
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Living Reference Work Entry In depth
Syngenicity
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Living Reference Work Entry In depth
Archaean Traces of Life
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Living Reference Work Entry In depth
Stromatolites
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Reference Work Entry In depth
Biogenicity