| A new theory of evolution of life on earth |
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| Written by Natascia |
| Thursday, 14 October 2010 18:16 |
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 Ariel Anbar, a biochemist at the University of Arizona, found that the occurrence of vascular plants and fish predators coincided with an increasing amount of oxygen comparable to that of today. If this theory is true, then animals have appeared before this period and evolved in conditions where there was less oxygen than previously thought. There were conflicting opinion on the amount of oxygen in the last 500 million years. The issue was whether the oxygen level was a constant or variable during this period. It is exactly the period in which animals and plants have appeared and have increased greatly. This is a problem that keeps even the history of life on Earth. New findings show that oxygen levels varied, and this variation is directly related to the evolution of complex life forms. Earth has existed for 4,500 million years. With 2,300 million years ago, the atmosphere contained only traces of oxygen. Oxygen level increased since then. This is the period over which the research team focuses on American University. Therefore, animals and plants have evolved under more harsh than today, with insufficient oxygen. That evolution has led to their increased intake of oxygen by complex chemical processes. It is an example of co-evolution of life and environment in which it is possible. ziare.com |
Scientists are approaching a very important discovery for the evolution of our planet. New research shows that oxygen was much less in the very distant past than previously thought.