Cellular fossils

Cellular fossils can be studied under the microscope, and more recently, laser Raman spectroscopy has been used (see below). The platelets often show cells with sizes, shapes, cell structure and colony shapes similar to those of today s microorganisms. These properties could not have survived if the rocks had been heated to temperatures above 420 K, and the fossils also would not have withstood high pressures. 

Fig. 10.4 Fossilized cellular filamentous microorganisms (two examples of Primaevifilum amoenum). They are 3.456 billion years old and come from the Apex chert region in northwestern Australia. As well as the original images, drawings and the Raman spectra and Raman images, which indicate that the fossils have a carbonaceous (organic) composition, are shown. With kind permission of J. W. Schopf...

Various primitive multi-cellular eukaryotes in precambrian fossils, some mineralized. Green algae dominant. Early land plants Fossils and tracks. Oxygen and ozone accumulating 1-4%... 

Molecular fossils have been successfully identified in younger Precambrian rocks and linked to certain classes of biological source material. In organic analyses of ancient sediments the cleaned, pulverized rocks are treated with organic solvents to extract a soluble fraction containing the less complex and more easily identifiable compounds. However, this fraction is more subject to contamination since it is not locked within the rock matrix. Normal alkanes have been identified in extracts of the 3 billion year old Fig Tree Shale. These alkanes have a probable biological origin in cellular lipids. The odd and even-numbered alkanes are evenly distributed, a characteristic of alkanes from ancient rocks. It is uncertain, however, whether these compounds were present at the time of deposition or derived from a later source [24]. 

Most of the sulfur in plants occurs in proteins, especially in the amino acids cysteine and methionine. Other essential compounds that contain sulfur are coenzyme A, a compound essential for cellular respiration and for the synthesis and breakdown of fatty acids, and the vitamins thiamine and biotin. Sulfur can be absorbed by leaves as gaseous sulfur dioxide, S02, an environmental pollutant released from active volcanoes and from the burning of wood or fossil fuels. 

Carbon dioxide is considered to be an inert molecule since, with water, it is the end product of any combustion process, including biological cellular oxidation reactions. Although it is produced by all living organisms, whether animal or vegetable (for example, an adult man emits about 0.9kg C02 per day), by far the main source of C02 is the combustion of fossil carbon (coal, oil, gas) used for the production of energy. 

Similarly, carbon monoxide, CO, and carbon dioxide, C02, are both made up of carbon and oxygen. Yet each compound is unique, with its own physical and chemical properties. Carbon dioxide is a product of cellular respiration and the complete combustion of fossil fuels. Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas formed when insufficient oxygen is present during the combustion of carbon-containing compounds. Carbon monoxide always contains 42.88% carbon by mass. Carbon dioxide always contains 27.29% carbon by mass. 

What these fossils would find is a book divided into three sections. The first is Dennis McKennas attempt to understand the psychedelic effects of the mushroom revelation in neurobiological terms. Dennis was interested in the cellular and molecular changes that accompanied the altered state, assuming that the dozens of techniques humans used to promote these states were just different ways of triggering the same organic process. Just different roads to the top of the same mountain. 

Two predominantly inertinite macerals are fusinite and semifusinite (Figure 4.3) fusinite is commonly referred to as fossil charcoal and usually shows well-defined cellular structures. Fusinite is seen in most coals and has a charcoal-like structure. Fusinite is always the highest reflecting maceral present and is distinguished by cell texture. It is commonly broken into small shards and fragments. 

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