Billion-year-old fossil could be oldest multicellular animal
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The oldest multicellular animal
Scientists recently found a tiny fossil at Loch Torridon in Scotland. “Loch” is the Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Scots word for a lake or for a sea inlet.
This fossil is around a billion years old. Scientists say that this fossil could be the earliest (oldest) multicellular animal known to science so far.
What are multicellular organisms?
Multicellular organisms are organisms that consist of more than one cell. Its opposite is unicellular organisms (which consists of a single cell).
The oldest multicellular animal has been named Bicellum Brasieri. The fossil shows that the organism had two distinct cell types.
What does the study of this fossil show?
The discovery of this fossil could indicate that the evolution of multicellular animals occurred at least one billion years ago. Additionally, early life may have started in freshwater lakes, rather than the ocean.
Scientists say that this fossil of the oldest multicellular animal could be a new link to help us understand the evolution of animals.
Are you interested in learning about fossils? Fossils are parts of an animal or plant that lived thousands or millions of years ago which has turned into rock. They include bones, shells, exoskeletons, objects preserved in amber, hair, and even oil and coal. The study of fossils is called palaeontology. Studying fossils helps us understand more about life in ancient times and its connection to our world today. Keep reading Curious Times to know what scientists are discovering about Earth’s past.
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