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1 CE
Formation of Earth
4.6 billion years ago -
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. -
3
0.75billion years ago -- Green algae
0.75billion years ago -- Green algae -
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. -
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. -
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. -
3
2.4–2.3 billion years ago
First rock evidence of atmospheric oxygen -
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.