Thomas
Brasier Cavalier-Smith, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
This is a review article published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. It summarizes the current consensus and points of debate regarding the age and history of life on Earth. It covers biogeochemical, fossil, and phylogenetic data bearing on two primary questions - the earliest life on Earth, and the process of atmospheric oxygenation. This article is very technical, but would make good background reading for teachers from the secondary level upward. The bibliography is also an excellent resource for reading materials on early microbial evolution.
Subject: Geoscience:Atmospheric Science:Climate Change, Biology, Geoscience:Atmospheric Science:Climatology , Environmental Science:Ecosystems:Evolution, Geoscience:Atmospheric Science:Climate Change:History and evolution of Earth's climate, Paleoclimate records, Geoscience:Paleontology, Biogeosciences , Environmental Science:Ecosystems:Biogeochemical cycling, Geoscience:Atmospheric Science:Climatology :Evolution of climate and atmosphere, Biology:Evolution:Processes, Biology:Evolution, Environmental Science:Ecosystems, Biology:Microbiology, Biogeochemistry, Environmental Science:Global Change and Climate:Climate Change:Paleoclimate records, History and evolution of Earth's climate, Environmental Science:Global Change and Climate:Climate Change, Environmental Science:Global Change and Climate Resource Type: Scientific Resources:Overview/Reference Work, Scientific Resources Grade Level: Graduate/Professional Theme: Teach the Earth:Course Topics:Atmospheric Science, Paleontology, Environmental Science, Biogeoscience, Teach the Earth:Incorporating Societal Issues:Climate ChangeKeywords: early life, paleoclimate, fossils, cell evolution, atmospheric oxygenation, phylogeny
