Were there any eukaryotic cells on Earth 1.5 billion years ago?

• A. No, eukaryotic cells appeared only 500 million years ago.
• B. Yes, eukaryotic cells have existed since the formation of Earth.
• C. Yes, eukaryotic cells first appeared around 1.5 billion years ago.
• D. No, eukaryotic cells appeared 3 billion years ago.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the timeline of Earth's history and the appearance of different types of cells. The Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old.
2. Recognize that prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria, were the first forms of life on Earth, appearing around 3.5 billion years ago.
3. Learn that eukaryotic cells, which are more complex and have a nucleus, appeared later in Earth's history.
4. Identify that scientific evidence suggests eukaryotic cells first appeared approximately 1.5 to 2 billion years ago.
5. Conclude that based on the timeline, eukaryotic cells were indeed present on Earth 1.5 billion years ago.