A transmission electron micrograph of a modern bacterium, Helicobacter pylori. This section shows a spherical body and several flagella BIOMEDICAL IMAGING UNIT, SOUTHAM
Some of the earliest microorganisms may have been able to move around under their own power using whip-like “tails”, according to a study of fossils from 3.4 billion years ago. However, other palaeontologists say the evidence is weak – although they agree that the ability to move probably did evolve early.
The oldest confirmed fossils are 3.5 billion years old. They are all single-celled organisms like bacteria. Many researchers have claimed…
