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Science 17 September 1965:
Vol. 149. no. 3690, pp. 1365 - 1367
DOI: 10.1126/science.149.3690.1365
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Articles

Electron Microscopy of Fossil Bacteria Two Billion Years Old

J. William Schopf 1, Elso S. Barghoorn 1, Morton D. Maser 2, and Robert O. Gordon 2

1 Department of Biology and Botanical Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 01238
2 Department of Biology, Harvard University

Occurrence of well-preserved rod-shaped and coccoid bacteria in the Precambrian Gunflint chert (1.9 x 109 years old) has been demonstrated by electron microscopy. This appears to be the oldest definite occurrence of bacteria in the fossil record. The organisms are morphologically comparable with certain modern iron bacteria.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Fungal Attack on Rock: Solubilization and Altered Infrared Spectra.
M. P. Silverman, M. P. Silverman, and E. F. Munoz (1970)
Science 169, 985-987
   Abstract »    PDF »
Alga-Like Fossils from the Early Precambrian of South Africa.
J. W. Schopf, J. W. Schopf, and E. S. Barghoorn (1967)
Science 156, 508-512
   Abstract »    PDF »
Microorganisms Three Billion Years Old from the Precambrian of South Africa.
E. S. Barghoorn, E. S. Barghoorn, and J. W. Schopf (1966)
Science 152, 758-763
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Microorganisms from the Late Precambrian of Central Australia.
E. S. Barghoorn and J. W. Schopf (1965)
Science 150, 337-339
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)