Dianne Newman (CalTech) Part 1: An Overview of Microbial Diversity and Evolution 

www.ibiology.org/microbiology...
Microbes are diverse, ancient, numerous and ubiquitous. In part 1, Newman gives an overview of these four key points. She presents mind-boggling data on the numbers of microbes inhabiting the earth, as well as the environments in which they can survive, and indeed, thrive. Both fossilized and modern microbes come in fantastically diverse physical forms and this diversity extends to their metabolism. Newman explains how geobiologists can deduce information about ancient microbial life by studying rocks formed on earth billions of years ago.