Date Event 2500 MaGreat Oxidation Event led by cyanobacteria's oxygenic photosynthesis. Commencement of plate tectonics with old marine crust dense enough to subduct.2023 MaFormation of the Vredefort impact structure, one of the largest and oldest verified impact structures on Earth. The crater is estimated to have been between across when it first formed. By 1850 Ma Eukaryotic cells, containing membrane-bound organelles with diverse functions, probably derived from prokaryotes engulfing each other via phagocytosis. (See Symbiogenesis and Endosymbiont). Bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) emerge before or soon after the divergence of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic lineages. Red beds show an oxidising atmosphere, favouring the spread of eukaryotic life. 1500 MaVolyn biota, a collection of exceptionally well-preserved microfossils with varying morphologies. 1300 Ma Earliest land fungi. By 1200 Ma Meiosis and sexual reproduction in single-celled eukaryotes, possibly even in the common ancestor of all eukaryotes or in the RNA world. Sexual reproduction may have increased the rate of evolution. By 1000 Ma First non-marine eukaryotes move onto land. They were photosynthetic and multicellular, indicating that plants evolved much earlier than originally thought. 750 Ma Beginning of animal evolution. 720–630 Ma Possible global glaciation which increased the atmospheric oxygen and decreased carbon dioxide, and was either caused by land plant evolution or resulted in it. Opinion is divided on whether it increased or decreased biodiversity or the rate of evolution. 600 Ma Accumulation of atmospheric oxygen allows the formation of an ozone layer. Previous land-based life would probably have required other chemicals to attenuate ultraviolet radiation. 580–542 Ma Ediacaran biota, the first large, complex aquatic multicellular organisms. 580–500 Ma Cambrian explosion: most modern animal phyla appear. 550–540 Ma Ctenophora (comb jellies), Porifera (sponges), Anthozoa (corals and sea anemones), Ikaria wariootia (an early Bilaterian).
Date Event 2500 MaGreat Oxidation Event led by cyanobacteria's oxygenic photosynthesis. Commencement of plate tectonics with old marine crust dense enough to subduct.2023 MaFormation of the Vredefort impact structure, one of the largest and oldest verified impact structures on Earth. The crater is estimated to have been between across when it first formed. By 1850 Ma Eukaryotic cells, containing membrane-bound organelles with diverse functions, probably derived from prokaryotes engulfing each other via phagocytosis. (See Symbiogenesis and Endosymbiont). Bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) emerge before or soon after the divergence of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic lineages. Red beds show an oxidising atmosphere, favouring the spread of eukaryotic life. 1500 MaVolyn biota, a collection of exceptionally well-preserved microfossils with varying morphologies. 1300 Ma Earliest land fungi. By 1200 Ma Meiosis and sexual reproduction in single-celled eukaryotes, possibly even in the common ancestor of all eukaryotes or in the RNA world Sexual reproduction may have increased the rate of evolution. By 1000 Ma First non-marine eukaryotes move onto land. They were photosynthetic and multicellular, indicating that plants evolved much earlier than originally thought. 750 Ma Beginning of animal evolution. 720–630 Ma Possible global glaciation which increased the atmospheric oxygen and decreased carbon dioxide, and was either caused by land plant evolution or resulted in it. Opinion is divided on whether it increased or decreased biodiversity or the rate of evolution. 600 Ma Accumulation of atmo.spheric oxygen allows the formation of an ozone layer. Previous land-based life would probably have required other chemicals to attenuate ultraviolet radiation. 580–542 Ma Ediacaran biota, the first large, complex aquatic multicellular organisms. 580–500 Ma Cambrian explosion: most modern animal phyla appear. 550–540 Ma Ctenophora (comb jellies), Porifera (sponges), Anthozoa (corals and sea anemones), Ikaria wariootia (an early Bilaterian).