Definition
Eukaryotes are probably the result of endosymbiosis, and basically three types exist. The basic ones are the simplest eukaryotic cells with a nucleus only (Giardia) (Graczk, 2005). Secondly, protists have mitochondria, which have been proposed to have an alpha-proteobacterial origin (Sagan (Margulis), 1967). Finally, beside mitochondria, cells of eukaryotic algae contain chloroplasts, former single-celled cyanobacteria achieved via endosymbiosys (Mereschkowsky, 1905; Wallin, 1920; Sagan (Margulis), 1967). The geological record of protists begins long before the Ediacaran vendobionts. Possibly stem group protists were found in ca. 3 Ga-old rocks (Javaux et al., 2010). Within the Late Mesoproterozoic rocks, the divergence of major eukaryotic clades is observed. Beside the fossil record of early eukaryotes, related biomarkers (steranes) were found in up to 2.7 Ga-old rocks, which may support the early origin of eukaryotes before the Great Oxidation Event (Brocks et al., 1999;...
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Reitner, J. (2011). Early Precambrian Eukaryotes. In: Reitner, J., Thiel, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geobiology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9212-1_168
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