现代细菌分布极广，无处不有。过去，只知中生代、新生代的沉积中， 保存了小球菌 (Micrococci)和杆菌(Bacillus)化石。近10余年,运用透射电子显微镜(TEM)和生物化学技术，已在古生代和前寒武纪的沉积中，发现细菌化石。
当然，细菌化石也应留下碳元素的痕迹。
Of course, fossilised bacteria would be expected to leave carbon traces too.
在1600万年前太阳系正在形成时，这颗名为Allen Hills 84001的陨石因爆炸而脱离火星，人们在其中发现了细菌化石。
Their fossilised remains have been found in the rock, which was blasted out of Mars 16 million years ago as the solar system was forming.
这些细菌化石发现于世界上最古老沙滩Strelly Pool的砂粒间，用肉眼很难得看见。 这一沙滩位于澳大利亚西部偏远的皮尔巴拉地区。
Their fossils, which are too small to see with the naked eye, were found nestled between grains of sand on the world’s oldest beach in Strelley Pool, in the remote Pilbara region of Western Australia.
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