1. Ancient bacteria that produced oxygen through photosynthesis around 2.5 billion years ago changed Earth's atmosphere from reducing to oxidizing. 2. Prokaryotes were the earliest life forms and remain the most widespread, inhabiting Earth for billions of years. Prokaryotes come in various shapes and have adaptations like flagella, endospores and biofilms that allow them to thrive in diverse environments. 3. Eukaryotic cells evolved from prokaryotic cells over 2 billion years ago, developing features like the nucleus and organelles through endosymbiosis. Protists are a diverse group of mostly single-celled eukaryotes that include organisms like algae, proto