Deep questions about the nature of early-life signals: a commentary on Lister (1673) 'A description of certain stones figured like plants'

Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences
Martin Brasier

Abstract

In 1673, Martin Lister explored the preservation of 'St Cuthbert's beads' plus other fossil crinoid remains from approximately 350 Ma Carboniferous limestone in northern England. He used taphonomic evidence (transport, disarticulation, burial and cementation) to infer an origin as petrified plant remains, in contrast with his views expressed elsewhere that fossil mollusc shells could have formed abiogenically, by 'plastic forces' within rock. Lister also observed pentagonal symmetry, now seen as characteristic of living echinoderm skeletons. A postscript from John Ray supports Lister's 'taphonomic' observations and accepts the biogenicity of these fossil 'vegetables'. Ray then concluded with a prophecy, predicting the discovery of comparable living fossils in remote ocean waters. These early discussions compare with current debates about the character of candidate microfossils from the early Earth and Mars. Interesting biomorphs are now tested against the abiogenic null hypotheses, making use of features such as those pioneered by Lister, including evidence for geological context, rules for growth and taphonomy. Advanced techniques now allow us to extend this list of criteria to include the nanoscale mapping of biology-like beh...Continue Reading

References

Jul 1, 1995·Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London·R W Unwin
Mar 8, 2002·Nature·Martin D BrasierNathalie V Grassineau
Feb 26, 2004·Origins of Life and Evolution of the Biosphere : the Journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life·Martin BrasierAndrew Steele
Jun 12, 2004·Ambix·Anna Marie Roos
Jun 7, 2006·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Martin BrasierDavid Wacey
Dec 22, 2006·Nature·Jake V BaileyFrank A Corsetti
Nov 18, 2009·Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences·David Allan Feller
Sep 6, 2012·Evolution & Development·Stefan BengtsonPhilip C J Donoghue
May 1, 2013·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·David WaceyMartin D Brasier
May 2, 2014·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Jonathan B AntcliffeMartin D Brasier
Jun 10, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Eugene G Grosch, Nicola McLoughlin

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