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Evidence for evolution: fossils and data interpretation

Inheritance, variation and evolution • The development of understanding of genetics and evolution

Key concepts

What you'll likely be quizzed about

  • Fossils are physical remains or traces of organisms preserved in rocks or sediments.
  • Fossil formation occurs when soft tissue does not decay in oxygen-poor, acidic environments like peat bogs; hard parts are replaced by minerals during burial under sediments; or when traces such as footprints or burrows are preserved.
  • Fossils found in layered rocks create a fossil record that arranges organisms in chronological order because lower layers are older than upper layers.
  • The fossil record reveals gradual changes in some lineages and stability in others, but it contains gaps since not all organisms fossilise, and many fossils are destroyed by geological processes.

Flashcards

Test your knowledge with interactive flashcards

What information does the fossil record provide?

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The fossil record provides a time-ordered sequence of past organisms, evidence of gradual change, transitional forms, and patterns of extinction and diversification.

Key notes

Important points to keep in mind

Fossils form through preservation, replacement, or trace methods; identify the formation process for specimens.

Older rocks are found in lower layers; use stratigraphy to sequence fossils.

Mutations create genetic variation; antibiotics increase the frequency of resistant bacteria.

Examine graph axes, units, and keys before identifying trends or rates.

Branching on evolutionary trees illustrates relatedness; check if branch lengths indicate time.

Use diverse evidence (fossils, morphology, DNA, observed evolution) to support evolutionary conclusions.

Acknowledge gaps in the fossil record and consider limiting factors when interpreting fossil data.

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