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Photosynthesis on Earth

By Lupitaa
  • Formation of Earth
    1 CE

    Formation of Earth

    4.6 billion years ago
  • First photosynthetic bacteria
    2

    First photosynthetic bacteria

    They absorbed near-infrared rather than visible light and produced sulfur or sulfate compounds rather than oxygen. Their pigments (possibly bacteriochloro­phylls) were predecessors to chlorophyll.
  • 0.75billion years ago -- Green algae
    3

    0.75billion years ago -- Green algae

    0.75billion years ago -- Green algae
  • 0.475billion years ago -- First land plants
    3

    0.475billion years ago -- First land plants

    Mosses and liverworts descended from green algae. Lacking vascular structure (stems and roots) to pull water from the soil, they are unable to grow tall.
  • 1.2billion years ago -- Red and brown algae
    3

    1.2billion years ago -- Red and brown algae

    These organisms have more complex cellular structures than bacteria do. Like cyanobacteria, they contain phycobilin pigments as well as various forms of chlorophyll.
  • 0.423 billion years ago -- Vascular plants
    3

    0.423 billion years ago -- Vascular plants

    These are literally garden-variety plants, such as ferns, grasses, trees and cacti. They are able to grow tall canopies to capture more light.
  • 2.4–2.3 billion years ago
    3

    2.4–2.3 billion years ago

    First rock evidence of atmospheric oxygen
  • 2.7 billion years ago Cyanobacteria
    4

    2.7 billion years ago Cyanobacteria

    These ubiquitous bacteria were the first oxygen producers. They absorb visible light using a mix of pigments: phyco­bilins, carotenoids and several forms of chlorophyll.