Ancient Algae Fossils in India: A Window into Early Life on Earth
Location: Kashia, Odisha
Discovered By: Scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow
Era: Archaean Era (4 billion – 2.5 billion years ago)
These photosynthetic blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) are among the oldest known life forms on Earth.
They played a crucial role in oxygenating Earth’s atmosphere, leading to the development of complex life.
Location: Chitrakoot region, Central India
Significance:
This is one of the earliest known fossils of red algae, which are eukaryotic organisms (cells with a nucleus).
Suggests that multicellular life evolved much earlier than previously believed.
Earliest Evidence of Life in India – Confirms India’s role in the origin of life on Earth.
Photosynthesis & Oxygen Revolution – Cyanobacteria contributed to the Great Oxygenation Event, paving the way for complex life.
Early Evolution of Multicellular Organisms – The red algae fossils indicate that advanced life forms existed 1.6 billion years ago.
These findings reshape our understanding of early life on Earth and highlight India’s significance in the evolutionary timeline of life!
