Scientists have discovered what could be the earliest human ancestor, an organism known as Saccorhytus coronarius. This microscopic precursor to deuterostomes, which includes all modern vertebrates, was found in fossils dating back to the late Cambrian Period, 540 million years ago. The fossils were

FAQ

1. What is the “All Mouth, No Anus” theory?

The “All Mouth, No Anus” theory suggests that the earliest known human ancestor was a microscopic organism that consumed food by engulfing it with its mouth-like opening, but had no anus to expel waste.

2. How old is this microscopic organism?

The microscopic organism that could be the oldest human ancestor is estimated to be around 540 million years old, which places it in the Cambrian period.

3. What is the significance of this discovery?

The discovery of a possible human ancestor that is so ancient sheds light on the evolution of complex organisms on Earth and could help us understand how we came to be as we are today.

4. How was this microscopic organism discovered?

The microscopic organism was discovered in sedimentary rocks in China, and was identified through the analysis of its fossilized remains.

5. What are some characteristics of this microscopic organism?

The microscopic organism was about 1mm in length, had a mouth-like opening called a “proto-mouth”, and consumed food by engulfing it whole. It also had no anus to expel waste, which is why it has been dubbed the “All Mouth, No Anus” organism.

6. Is this microscopic organism the only contender for the title of oldest human ancestor?

No, there are other organisms that are also believed to be possible human ancestors, such as the Dickinsonia, which lived around 550 million years ago and had a flat, oval shape.

7. How did this microscopic organism evolve into more complex organisms?

It is believed that over time, this microscopic organism evolved and developed new traits, such as the ability to move and the development of a digestive system with a separate anus. These traits allowed it to become more complex and eventually give rise to more advanced organisms.

8. Does this discovery change our understanding of human evolution?

This discovery does not necessarily change our understanding of human evolution, but it does provide new insight into the earliest stages of complex life on Earth.

9. What are the implications of this discovery for the study of evolution?

This discovery suggests that the evolution of complex organisms on Earth was a gradual process that took place over millions of years, and that there were many different paths that could have led to the development of more advanced life forms.

10. What is the next step in researching this microscopic organism?

The next step in researching this microscopic organism is to continue analyzing its fossilized remains and to compare them with other organisms from the same time period to better understand its place in the evolutionary tree.

11. How does this discovery affect our understanding of the origins of life on Earth?

This discovery adds to our understanding of the origins of life on Earth by providing evidence of the earliest known complex organism and shedding light on the process of evolution that led to the development of more advanced life forms.