A deep-sea microbe reveals how oxygen sparked the rise of complex life
The discovery of Lokeiarchaeota, a unique deep-sea microbe, provides a missing link showing how ancient single-celled organisms evolved into complex life following a dramatic rise in Earth's oxygen levels.
Deep-sea sediments near hydrothermal vents harbor Lokiarchaeota, a group of microbes that share surprising genetic traits with humans and all other complex organisms. These microorganisms represent a transitional bridge between simple bacteria and eukaryotes, which are cells with nuclei.
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