Anatomy and plant affinity of Chuaria  

作　　者：WANG Xin YUAN XunLai ZHOU ChuanMing DU KaiHe GONG Miao 

机构地区：[1]State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China [2]College of Biological Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China [3]Hunan Geological Museum, Changsha 410007, China

出　　处：《Chinese Science Bulletin》2011年第12期1256-1261,共6页

基　　金：supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-YW-153,154);the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40772006, 40625006, 40632010 and J0630967);the State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology (20102108 and 20101104);the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry

摘　　要：Chuaria is one of the few globally distributed macrofossil pioneers documented in the Precambrian. It is perhaps the most controversial fossil in term of its affinity despite more than one hundred years of study. Many mutually exclusive affinities have been suggested for this frequently encountered fossil. Although often treated as a multicellular alga, this interpretation remains inconclusive because the lacking unambiguous demonstration of cellular structures. In this paper the cellular details of Chuaria are clearly revealed for the first time. The cell walls in Chuaria suggest that it is a multicellular eukaryotic alga, in agreement with the latest biogeochemical analyses. Different thicknesses of cell walls suggest primary cellular differentiation in this organism. Membrane-like structures within the cells (the first to be reported in Precambrian fossils) imply a eukaryotic nature. This study partially resolves the century-long controversy over the affinity of Chuaria, and makes Chuaria one of the few recognized multicellular eukaryotes before the Neoproterozoic glaciation.Chuaria is one of the few globally distributed macrofossil pioneers documented in the Precambrian. It is perhaps the most controversial fossil in term of its affinity despite more than one hundred years of study. Many mutually exclusive affinities have been suggested for this frequently encountered fossil. Although often treated as a multiceUular alga, this interpretation remains incon- clusive because the lacking unambiguous demonstration of cellular structures. In this paper the cellular details of Chuaria are clearly revealed for the first time. The cell walls in Chuaria suggest that it is a multicellular eukaryotic alga, in agreement with the latest biogeochemical analyses. Different thicknesses of cell walls suggest primary cellular differentiation in this organism. Mem- brane-like structures within the cells （the first to be reported in Precambrian fossils） imply a eukaryotic nature. This study partially resolves the century-long controversy over the affinity of Chuaria, and makes Chuaria one of the few recognized multieellular eukaryotes before the Neoproterozoic glaciation.

关 键 词：亲和力 解剖学 真核生物 植物 细胞结构 地球化学分析 前寒武纪 相互排斥 

分 类 号：Q944[生物学—植物学]