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Doushantuo embryos preserved inside diapause egg cysts

Author

Listed:
  • Leiming Yin

    (State Key Laboratory of Paleobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China)

  • Maoyan Zhu

    (State Key Laboratory of Paleobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China)

  • Andrew H. Knoll

    (Botanical Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA)

  • Xunlai Yuan

    (State Key Laboratory of Paleobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China)

  • Junming Zhang

    (State Key Laboratory of Paleobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China)

  • Jie Hu

    (State Key Laboratory of Paleobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China)

Abstract

Microfossils: mixed message The controversy generated by the identification of phosphatized microfossils from the Doushantuo Formation in southern China as the embryos of early animals continues. A recent suggestion, that the roughly 600-million-year-old microfossils may be giant sulphur-oxidizing bacteria similar to the extant Thiomargarita, has been put to the test and found wanting — at least for some of the specimens. New observations reveal that some of the embryo-like fossils are found within elaborate organic vesicles called acritarchs, consistent with a reproductive strategy known as embryonic diapause, in which early embryos enter a dormant 'egg cyst' state. This suggests that these organisms were eukaryotes. Further arguments against the 'giant bacteria' explanation are presented online in a Brief Communications Arising contribution, which includes the suggestion that bacteria-like microfossils may have been stripped of their outer layers by the vagaries of fossil formation and preservation.

Suggested Citation

  • Leiming Yin & Maoyan Zhu & Andrew H. Knoll & Xunlai Yuan & Junming Zhang & Jie Hu, 2007. "Doushantuo embryos preserved inside diapause egg cysts," Nature, Nature, vol. 446(7136), pages 661-663, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:446:y:2007:i:7136:d:10.1038_nature05682
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05682
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