- Eukaryotes originated over 1.8 billion years ago through endosymbiosis, where ancient prokaryotes lived inside early cells.
- The earliest fossils of eukaryotic cells date back 1.8 billion years, and initial diversification of eukaryotes occurred between 1.8-1.3 billion years ago.
- Novel features in eukaryotes like complex multicellularity, sexual reproduction and photosynthesis arose between 1.3-635 million years ago.