Multicellular organisms existed more than 600 million years ago or 60 million years before the Cambrian Explosion when skeletal animals first appeared.

The Cambrian Explosion began some 542 million years ago in the Cambrian Period and was the period in which most major animal phyla appeared.

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Back in 1998, scientists discovered strange sphere-shaped fossils called Megasphaera in southern China. Since the discovery, researchers have been trying to figure out exactly what these fossils are.

A new study published in the journal, Nature, suggests these strange fossils could be remnants of multicellular algae or even embryos from prehistoric animals.

Found in a rock layer called the Doushantuo Formation in southern China, these Megasphaera are so miniscule in size it only measures a mere .03 inches in diameter.

Researchers believe these Megasphaera subsisted on shallow waters. Unfortunately, these fossils are so ancient that researchers couldn't find a link to the adult animal that could have produced these embryos.

According to Shuhai Xiao, a professor of geobiology from the Virginia Tech College of Science, this discovery provides new insightas to  how multicellular organisms evolved through time.

He added these fossils could be related to bacteria or algae that later transitioned into modern sea animals such as anemones.

Apart from observing the odd spherical shape of these fossils, researchers also noted the main structure of the fossils looks like stained glass made from ultra thin material.

Xiao and his team also observed the fossils' cell structure includes various shapes and sizes that indicate these cells evolved into different kinds of tissue.

Future research of these Megasphaera will focus on the complete life cycle of fossils and how multicellular organisms later transitioned into algae or animals.

TagsMysterious Ancient Fossil Reveals Multicellular Organisms 600 Million Years Ago, ancient multicellular fossils, megasphaera, evolution of multicellular organisms, cambrian explosion