Fossils of Oldest Embryos (IMAGE)

Virginia Tech

Fossils of Oldest Embryos

Caption

Shown are scanning electron photomicrographs of two fossil embryo specimens from the 600-million-year-old Doushantuo Formation in South China. The soccer-ball-shaped specimen is interpreted as an early stage (blastula) embryo, and the baseball-shaped specimen is interpreted as an intermediate-stage helical embryo consisting of three clockwise coils. Each embryo used to be enclosed in an envelope, which was removed (some piece still remains in the soccer-ball-shaped specimen) so that the embryo itself is exposed. Embryos are about 0.55-0.75 millimeter in diameter. Background shows the Doushantuo rocks from which the embryos were extracted.

Credit

Shuhai Xiao

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use with mention of Dr. Xiao's research

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