Chapter 4 - Nucleic Acids and the Origin of Life - 4.4 - Cells Orginiated from Their Molecular Building Blocks - 4.4 Recap - Learning Outcomes - Page 79: 2

When scientists discovered fossilized cyanobacteria in the 1990s, they were able to confirm the identity of the fossil by identifying its carbon isotope ratio. Since cyanobacteria was the first photosynthesizing cell, it is expected to produce sugars with the same isotopic ratio as other photosynthesizing organisms. More intensive analysis of the organic material identified substructures within the fossil that were indicative of once-living organisms and not simple organic compounds.

When scientists discovered fossilized cyanobacteria in the 1990s, they were able to confirm the identity of the fossil by identifying its carbon isotope ratio. Since cyanobacteria was the first photosynthesizing cell, it is expected to produce sugars with the same isotopic ratio as other photosynthesizing organisms. More intensive analysis of the organic material identified substructures within the fossil that were indicative of once-living organisms and not simple organic compounds.