Earliest organic evolution. Essay to the memory of Bartholomew Nagy

Abstract

A review is presented of the currently available evidence of life in the Precambrian, with special reference to microfossils of the size range 0.1–3 μm. The particles are spotted in thin sections of the rock under high apertures of the light microscope, and have been examined in demineralized thick sections under the transmission electron microscope (TEM). They have been chemically analyzed utilizing microprobe and spectrophotometer microscopic techniques. On the basis of such studies, the interaction of microorganisms with the formation of minerals can be traced back to early Archean times, 3800 million years ago. There is no indication supporting the assumption that some kind of prebiotic evolution took place in the recorded history of the Earth. The origin of life is open to alternative explanations, including extraterrestrial phenomena. More information may be obtained from meteorites. Under high magnifications of the TEM, a portion of the carbonaceous matter in the Murchison, Orgueil and Allende meteorites appears to be structured. Particles of various morphology can be distinguished. Microprobe techniques are applied to confirm that the microstructures are organic and indigenous to the rock. Possible origins by self-assembly and morphogenesis are discussed.