Microbes that gave rise to all plants and animals became multicellular 1.6 billion years ago, tiny fossils reveal.

A recent study published in Science Advances describes the discovery of microscopic, algalike fossils in ancient Chinese rock formations that date back over 1.6 billion years. These fossils provide evidence that multicellularity, a key characteristic of complex life forms, is much older than previously believed. The fossils consist of strings of cylindrical cells with adjoining cell walls, resembling plants, and some even have specialized reproductive structures. The findings challenge the notion that multicellularity evolved much later in the history of life and suggest that eukaryotes, which include everything from redwoods to humans, became multicellular much earlier than previously thought. However, some scientists remain cautious about drawing direct comparisons between these ancient organisms and modern ones. [Extracted from the article]