The bacterium Gemmata obscuriglobus disguised as an early eukaryote

Traces of certain biological molecules, called biomarkers, can be found in ancient rocks and could give a glimpse of what life was present at that time. However, without knowing details of who makes which biomarkers, or what conditions were needed to make them, the biomarker record remains controversial. Here, we want to study the bacterium Gemmata obscuriglobus for two reasons. This bacterium contains the genetic machinery to make biomarkers typical for bacteria, but also to make ones common in eukaryotes (group including all plants and animals). If environmental factors like oxygen level affect the biomarkers produced, then we can relate biomarker distribution to ancient environments. Secondly, the bacterium shares many cellular features with eukaryotes and might give insight into how the first eukaryotes originated.