Rethinking the Origins of Life on Earth: Oxygen's Role Reevaluated
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Science Daily
A new study challenges the long-held belief that increased oxygen levels triggered the emergence of complex multicellular organisms during the Avalon explosion, a precursor to the Cambrian explosion. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and other institutions analyzed ancient rock samples from Oman and found that oxygen concentrations in Earth's oceans remained 5-10 times lower than today during the time when these organisms appeared. The findings suggest that oxygen did not play a major role in the development of advanced life forms, prompting a need to revise our understanding of life's origins. The researchers propose that lower oxygen levels may have actually aided the development of these organisms, similar to how low oxygen levels control stem cells in humans and animals.