Discovering the 'Lost World' of Ancient Organisms in Australia

Photo: Doc. Australian National University (ANU)

Have you ever heard of the 'Lost World'? It refers to the Protosterol Biota, microscopic creatures that inhabited Earth approximately 1.6 billion years ago¹. The Protosterol Biota belongs to a group of organisms called eukaryotes, which are organisms with complex cell structures, such as mitochondria and nuclei¹.

Why is the 'Lost World' Significant?

The 'Lost World' is significant because it can revolutionize our understanding of the origins of life on Earth, particularly our human ancestors. Modern eukaryotes, such as fungi, plants, animals, and amoebas, can trace their lineage back to the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA), which lived over 1.2 billion years ago¹. The Protosterol Biota is believed to have existed even before LECA, making them the oldest remnants of our own evolutionary lineage¹.

How Was the 'Lost World' Discovered?

Scientists from the Australian National University (ANU) made the remarkable discovery of the 'Lost World' by investigating fossilized lipid molecules trapped in ancient rocks in Northern Australia². These rocks were formed at the seabed near what is now known as the Northern Territory of Australia and are billions of years old².

The scientists found that these lipid molecules possessed ancient chemical structures indicating the presence of early complex organisms that evolved before LECA and have since gone extinct².

What Form and Nature Does the 'Lost World' Take?

Scientists have yet to determine the physical form of the 'Lost World' as they have only discovered molecular remnants. However, they speculate that the 'Lost World' was more complex than bacteria and possibly larger².

Furthermore, they believe that the 'Lost World' may have been the Earth's first predators, hunting and consuming bacteria². The 'Lost World' thrived in marine ecosystems worldwide and likely shaped the majority of Earth's history¹.

Conclusion

The 'Lost World' refers to ancient microscopic organisms that lived on Earth approximately 1.6 billion years ago. They belong to the eukaryotic group, which comprises complex cellular organisms, including humans and other living creatures. Scientists discovered the 'Lost World' by investigating fossilized lipid molecules in ancient rocks in Northern Australia. This discovery has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the origins of life on Earth.

Sources:
1. detik.com
2. katakini.com
3. detik.com