This issue is organised and edited by Thomas Cavalier-Smith, Martin Embley and Martin Brasier.

When did life evolve? What were the first cells like? Can we trace connections between major innovations in microbial cell structure or biochemistry and dramatic changes in atmospheric composition and global climate, eg global warming and near-global freezing episodes? Leading earth scientists and biologists discuss multidisciplinary evidence for the interplay of cell evolution and earth history.

This issue is organised and edited by Thomas Cavalier-Smith, Martin Embley and Martin Brasier.

All the articles from this issue are now freely available online.

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