Syncroscopy Image Analysis Software Helps Question the Evidence for Earth’s Oldest Fossils

Scientists in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford are using Auto-Montage to capture and analyse many partially focused images of putative fossil structures embedded in layers of ancient rock. This has resulted in generating highly focused, two-dimensional images of what had been reported as Earth’s oldest fossils, something that has previously been difficult to accomplish with any accuracy.

Owen Green, a Research Scientist in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford said: “Before we had Auto-Montage we used print film and a conventional SLR camera, and would routinely cut and paste the in-focus sections of the images together manually. The completed montage would then have to be re-photographed.  This is not an exact science and it was very tricky, as well as time consuming to obtain even an approximation of a focused microfossil image. With Auto-Montage we can capture images at different focal depths in the rock and using the system are able to generate precise in-focus images quickly and simply.”

“To obtain high resolution photomicrographs of ancient fossil structures, some reported to be 3.5 million years old, is very important. This is just one factor enabling scientists to understand conditions on early Earth, and allows those studying Martian meteorites to appreciate the difficulties in recognising biogenic structures, or abiogenic artefacts caused by mineralisation,” explained Green.

Bob Town, Syncroscopy’s General Sales Manager commented: “To see Auto-Montage being successfully used to re-examine the evidence of the origins of life on Earth at such a well respected university, is a great privilege. This interesting application of Auto-Montage shows it could be useful for any number of mineralogical studies, and would be especially effective where producing images through three-dimensional rock samples is key to determining their true content.”

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For Further Information Contact:

Jayne Arthur, Syncroscopy, Beacon House, Nuffield Road, Cambridge, CB4 1TF, UK.

Tel: +44(0) 1223-727127 Fax: +44 (0) 1223-727101

Email: jayne.arthur@syncroscopy.com  Web site: www.syncroscopy.com 

Owen Green, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Parks Road,

Oxford, OX1 3PR, UK.

Tel: +44 (0) 1865 272071 Fax: +44 (0) 1865 272072

Email owen.green@earth.ox.ac.uk .  Web site: www.earth.ox.ac.uk

Editor Contact:

Dr Sue Pearson, PO Box 170, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 3GD, UK.

Tel/Fax +44 (0) 1462-635327 Email: sue6.pearson@ntlworld.com

Note to Editors

About Syncroscopy

Syncroscopy is a world-leading developer and supplier of innovative digital imaging solutions for optical microscopy applications. Syncroscopy's innovative brands include Auto-Montage for extended depth of focus three-dimensional imaging, Montage Explorer for the creation of the highest resolution, perfectly focused images ever seen and the SyncroCOOL camera range for cooled colour image capture. Syncroscopy's systems are used by more than 2,000 organisations internationally and include many of the world's major research institutes.

Syncroscopy, founded in 1998 is a division of the Synoptics Group based in Cambridge, UK. The Group’s other divisions, Syngene and Synbiosis, specialise in digital imaging solutions for molecular biology and microbial applications respectively. Synoptics currently employs 55 people in its UK and subsidiary operation in Frederick, USA. The Group has profitable revenue of almost $10 million and continues to grow rapidly.