Abstract
Xiao et al.1 suggest that the presence of a textured capsule surrounding some Doushantuo globular microfossils calls into question the alternative interpretation of these structures as giant sulphur bacteria similar to modern Thiomargarita2. However, the outer coatings illustrated by Xiao et al.1 are similar morphologically to known bacterial features, and the texture, location and thickness change of the capsule is inconsistent with that of a fertilization envelope. We are therefore not convinced that the bacterial hypothesis has been falsified.
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Bailey, J., Joye, S., Kalanetra, K. et al. Undressing and redressing Ediacaran embryos (Reply). Nature 446, E10–E11 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05754
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05754
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