Research Reveals Major Insight Into Evolution Of Life On Earth

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 21, 2009

Humans might not be walking on Earth today if not for the ancient fusing of two microscopic, single-celled organisms called prokaryotes, NASA-funded research has found.

By comparing proteins present in more than 3000 different prokaryotes – a type of single-celled organism without a nucleus – molecular biologist James A. Lake from the University of California at Los Angeles’ Center for Astrobiology showed that two major classes of relatively simple microbes fused together more than 2.5 billion years ago.

Lake’s research reveals a new pathway for the evolution of life on Earth. These insights are published in the Aug. 20 online edition of the journal Nature.

Full article here:

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Research_Reveals_Major_Insight_Into_Evolution_Of_Life_On_Earth_999.html