The aerobic nitrogen cycle is older than expected

2009/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Biologia

Nitrogen and carbon isotopes measured in several Australian schists 2.5 billion years ago can inform us of the aerobic nitrogen cycle. According to University of Washington researcher Jessica Garvin and her team, the aerobic nitrogen cycle may develop before oxygen begins to build up into the atmosphere. In fact, they have seen that certain microorganisms evolved at that time were able to produce nitrates and nitrites by adding oxygen to ammonia.