Archean Molecular Fossils and the Early Rise of Eukaryotes
Abstract
Molecular fossils of biological lipids are preserved in 2700-million-year-old shales from the Pilbara Craton, Australia. Sequential extraction of adjacent samples shows that these hydrocarbon biomarkers are indigenous and syngenetic to the Archean shales, greatly extending the known geological range of such molecules. The presence of abundant 2alpha-methylhopanes, which are characteristic of cyanobacteria, indicates that oxygenic photosynthesis evolved well before the atmosphere became oxidizing. The presence of steranes, particularly cholestane and its 28- to 30-carbon analogs, provides persuasive evidence for the existence of eukaryotes 500 million to 1 billion years before the extant fossil record indicates that the lineage arose.
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The earliest organic biomarker evidence for eukaryotic sterol synthesis, previously dated to 2.7 Ga, has been convincingly tied to contamination.
“Until recently the earliest organic biomarker evidence for eukaryotic sterol synthesis was dated to 2.7 Ga (Brocks et al., 1999), but those records have now been convincingly tied to contamination (French et al., 2015).”
From Oxygenation, Life, and the Planetary System during Earth's Middle History: An Overview (2021) · cites this paper as Brocks et al., 1999
The chemical breakdown (diagenesis) of some biomolecules produces recognizable compounds that are preserved long-term, often called molecular fossils.
“However, the chemical breakdown (diagenesis) of some biomolecules produces recognizable compounds that are preserved long-term. These breakdown products are often dubbed “molecular fossils” (Brocks et al., 1999; Summons et al., 1999).”
From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Brocks et al., 1999
AIDP-3 is stratigraphically equivalent to WRL-1, the core used in the first report of Archean biomarkers for cyanobacteria and eukaryotes.
“It is stratigraphically equivalent to WRL-1, which was the subject of the first report, to our knowledge, of Archean biomarkers for cyanobacteria and eukaryotes (1).”
From Reappraisal of hydrocarbon biomarkers in Archean rocks (2015) · cites this paper as [1]
Extractable acyclic isoprenoids and a homologous series of n-alkanes (C10-23+) were below detection limits or cumulative laboratory blank concentrations in the AIDP samples.
“Moreover, extractable acyclic isoprenoids and a homologous series of extractable n-alkanes (C 10-23+ ), both of which were prominent in previous Archean biomarker studies (1-3, 5, 7, 22, 23), were also below detection limits or cumulative laboratory blank concentrations in the AIDP samples.”
From Reappraisal of hydrocarbon biomarkers in Archean rocks (2015) · cites this paper as [1]
According to H/C ratios and other thermal history indicators, the metamorphic grades of AIDP-2 and AIDP-3 are similar to or lower than those of rocks from which biomarkers were previously reported.
“According to currently available H/C ratios and other indicators of thermal history, the metamorphic grades of AIDP-2 and AIDP-3 are similar to (1-4, 6, 7, 15, 21, 26) or lower than (5,22,23) the metamorphic grades of the rocks from which biomarkers have been previously reported.”
From Reappraisal of hydrocarbon biomarkers in Archean rocks (2015) · cites this paper as [1]
Bulk organic carbon in the studied rocks is anomalously depleted in 13C, with δ13C values between -32‰ and -50‰.
“Consistent with earlier work (1,10,39,40), the bulk organic carbon was found to be anomalously 13 C-depleted, with δ 13 C values ranging from -32‰ to -50‰ (Fig. 2 and SI Appendix, Table S5).”
From Reappraisal of hydrocarbon biomarkers in Archean rocks (2015) · cites this paper as [1]
The spatial distribution of AIDP-2 and AIDP-3 brackets and nearly spans the entire stratigraphic section from which other Pilbara biomarkers have been reported.
“The spatial distribution of AIDP-2 and AIDP-3 geographically brackets and nearly spans the entire stratigraphic section from which all of the other Pilbara biomarkers have been previously reported (1,3,4,21).”
From Reappraisal of hydrocarbon biomarkers in Archean rocks (2015) · cites this paper as [1]
Sawing can add significant but variable hydrocarbon contaminants to the substrate, yet cumulative blanks in previous studies did not record the contribution from sawing.
“the analyses of the saw blade (before it was heat treated) and the sawed surfaces of the RHDH2A quarter-core highlight that sawing can contribute significant but variable hydrocarbon contaminants to the substrate, yet the cumulative blanks reported in previous studies did not record the hydrocarbon contribution from sawing (1,4,6,7).”
From Reappraisal of hydrocarbon biomarkers in Archean rocks (2015) · cites this paper as [1]
The HyPy hydrocarbon δ13C values reported here are the first compound-specific isotopic measurements in agreement with strongly 13C-depleted kerogens (bulk δ13C < -39‰) of the Neoarchean.
“The HyPy hydrocarbon δ 13 C values reported here are, to our knowledge, the first compound-specific isotopic measurements that are in agreement with the strongly 13 C-depleted kerogens (δ 13 C bulk < -39‰) of the Neoarchean (1,10,39,40).”
From Reappraisal of hydrocarbon biomarkers in Archean rocks (2015) · cites this paper as [1]
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- Authors
- Brocks, J. J., Logan, G. A., Buick, R., & Summons, R. E.
- Affiliations
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Australian Geological Survey Organisation (AGSO), Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
- Corresponding author
- Brocks, Jochen J.
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 1999-08-13
- Volume
- 285
- Issue
- 5430
- Pages
- 1033-1036
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2032247127
- Cited by
- 1,275
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 45 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 55 · 2013: 61 · 2012: 57
- FWCI
- 43.40
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Origins and Evolution of Life
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Keywords
- Archean, molecular fossils, hydrocarbon biomarkers, Pilbara Craton, cyanobacteria, oxygenic photosynthesis, steranes, cholestane, eukaryotic origin, early eukaryotes
- MeSH terms
- Cyanobacteria, Atmosphere, Australia, Cholestanes, Eukaryotic Cells, Biological Evolution, Fossils, Hydrocarbons, Lipids, Paleontology, Photosynthesis, Steroids, Triterpenes, Biomarkers, Geologic Sediments
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