Electron microscopy reveals evidence for simple multicellularity in the Proterozoic fossil Chuaria

doi:10.1130/G38680.1

	Electron microscopy reveals evidence for simple multicellularity in the Proterozoic fossil Chuaria
	Tang, Qing (唐卿); Pang, Ke (庞科); Yuan, Xunlai (袁训来); Xiao, Shuhai (肖书海)
	2017
发表期刊	Geology
ISSN	0091-7613
卷号	45 期号:1 页码:75–78
摘要	Multicellularity arose multiple times in the evolutionary history of eukaryotes, and simple multicellularity may have a deep history tracing back to the Paleoproterozoic. However, complex multicellular organisms with cellular and tissue differentiation did not appear in the fossil record until the Mesoproterozoic, and it is not until the Ediacaran Period (635-541 Ma) when diverse assemblages of complex multicellular eukaryotes evolved. In the intervening Tonian Period (ca. 1000-720 Ma), the fossil record of multicellular organisms is poorly documented. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated Chuaria and associated carbonaceous compression fossils from the Tonian Liulaobei Formation in North China. These fossils have been variously interpreted as unicellular or multicellular organisms. Our analysis using backscattered-electron scanning electron microscopy (BSE-SEM) revealed direct evidence for simple multicellularity in some of these fossils and suggests that Chuaria may have had a multicellular vegetative stage in its life cycle. This study demonstrates that BSE-SEM has the potential to unveil the hidden diversity of multicellular organisms in the Tonian Period, thus enriching our knowledge about the multiple origins of multicellularity in this critical geological period before Cryogenian glaciations.
DOI	10.1130/G38680.1
收录类别	SCI
语种	英语
WOS研究方向	Geology
WOS类目	Geology
WOS记录号	WOS:000396124000021
出版者	GEOLOGICAL SOC AMER, INC
文献类型	期刊论文
条目标识符	http://ir.nigpas.ac.cn/handle/332004/12793
专题	中国科学院南京地质古生物研究所其他
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714	Tang, Qing ,Pang, Ke ,Yuan, Xunlai ,et al. Electron microscopy reveals evidence for simple multicellularity in the Proterozoic fossil Chuaria[J]. Geology,2017,45(1):75–78.
APA	Tang, Qing ,Pang, Ke ,Yuan, Xunlai ,&Xiao, Shuhai .(2017).Electron microscopy reveals evidence for simple multicellularity in the Proterozoic fossil Chuaria.Geology,45(1),75–78.
MLA	Tang, Qing ,et al."Electron microscopy reveals evidence for simple multicellularity in the Proterozoic fossil Chuaria".Geology 45.1(2017):75–78.