Question

The earliest generally accepted fossils of living organisms are:

1) yeasts
2) stromatolites
3) zircons
4) stable isotopes

Answer 1

The earliest generally accepted fossils of living organisms are stromatolites from about 3.5 billion years ago, representing ancient oxygen-producing photosynthetic bacteria.

Step-by-step explanation:

The earliest fossil evidence for life on Earth is tied to the discovery of ancient stromatolites, which are layered rock formations believed to be the fossilized remains of oxygen-producing photosynthetic bacteria. These formations date back to approximately 3.5 billion years ago, highlighting the presence of life well into Earth's distant past.

Notably, stromatolites are thought to be created by simpler forms of photosynthesis, which may have existed even earlier than 3.4 billion years ago. The extinct and extant forms of stromatolites serve as significant contributors to our understanding of early life and Earth's history, acting as an essential bridge in the interdisciplinary fields of paleontology and geobiology.