Mammalian gut microbiomes profoundly influence host fitness, but the processes that drive
the evolution of host-microbiome systems are poorly understood. Recent studies suggest …

The origin of the eukaryotic cell, with its compartmentalized nature and generally large size
compared with bacterial and archaeal cells, represents a cornerstone event in the evolution …

The nature of the last universal common ancestor (LUCA), its age and its impact on the Earth
system have been the subject of vigorous debate across diverse disciplines, often based on …

In the ongoing debates about eukaryogenesis—the series of evolutionary events leading to
the emergence of the eukaryotic cell from prokaryotic ancestors—members of the Asgard …

The timing of early cellular evolution, from the divergence of Archaea and Bacteria to the
origin of eukaryotes, is poorly constrained. The ATP synthase complex is thought to have …

The origin of plants and their colonization of land fundamentally transformed the terrestrial
environment. Here we elucidate the basis of this formative episode in Earth history through …

INTRODUCTION Bacteria are the most diverse and abundant cellular organisms on Earth,
and in recent years environmental genomics has revealed the existence of an enormous …

Whether mammal–microbiome interactions are persistent and specific over evolutionary
time is controversial. Here we show that host phylogeny and major dietary shifts have …

Hypotheses about the origin of eukaryotic cells are classically framed within the context of a
universal 'tree of life'based on conserved core genes. Vigorous ongoing debate about …

As the only surviving lineages of jawless fishes, hagfishes and lampreys provide a crucial
window into early vertebrate evolution,–. Here we investigate the complex history, timing …