The first cells were most likely primitive prokaryotic-like cells, even more simplistic than the bacteria we know today. These early cells were probably no more than organic compounds, such as a simplistic RNA, surrounded by a membrane.
It is important to understand that the origin of life and the first cells is still a matter of scientific speculation. We cannot recreate these events in a laboratory, so we rely on evidence from fossils, chemical analysis, and theoretical models.
The current scientific consensus is that the first cells emerged from non-living matter through a process called abiogenesis. This process involved the gradual self-assembly of complex molecules from simpler inorganic compounds, eventually leading to the formation of the first self-replicating cells.
While scientists have made significant progress in understanding the origin of life, many questions remain unanswered. For example, we still don't know the exact sequence of events that led to the formation of the first cells or the specific conditions under which this happened.
In summary, the question of which cell came first is more about the origins of life and the evolution of cells than about a specific type of cell. The first cells were likely very simple, and over time, they evolved into the diverse array of cells we see today.
