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For all their importance,
最重要的是
they're actually the simplest of life forms,
他們實際上是最簡單的生命種類
nothing more than bacteria.
不比細菌的細胞多
When you get up close you can see
當你靠近觀察
that it's only the outer part that's alive.
就只有外面這一部分是活著的
It's a layer of bacteria that secretes a thin film of slime
這一層細菌分泌一層薄薄的粘液
which builds up layer upon layer.
一層接一層粘合起來
It might not look like it,
它雖然看起來不怎樣
but these are the most successful Life forms on the planet.
不過這些是地球上最成功的生命種類
These stromatolites have been around
疊層石誕生至今
for 3,500 million years.
已經三十五億年了
That's three-quarters of the age of the planet.
相當于地球四分之三的年紀
And yet when they first evolved almost three billion years ago,
同時它們第一次進化是在超過三十億年前
these simple life forms began one of the most important transformations
這些簡單生命類型開始最重要的變形
the planet has ever seen.
地球目睹了這一切
These stromatolites are special
這些疊層石是特別的
because they did something that was quite extraordinary.
因為它們做了非常特別的事情
As they took in the sunlight and photosynthesised,
它們吸收陽光和進行光合作用
they broke down the chemical bonds in water
分解水的化學鍵
releasing something that would completely change the planet.
生成一些能徹底改變地球的東西
They released oxygen.
它們生成氧氣
