Facts about Fossils
How does the fossil record reveal information and evidence of evolution?
Fossil evidence clearly shows that life is old and has changed over time. Because in fossils, some organisms have similar features to ones today but are slightly different in aspects such as skull size/shape, teeth size, etc. These fossils are connected to modern organisms with DNA connections that are found in the nucleus (more in DNA Information section), and scientists can then see how these organisms have evolved and how natural selection/theory of evolution is proven.
What can fossils tell us about diversity of organisms in the past and the future?
Fossils tell scientists and others about the diversity of the organisms in the past that they lived in. As shown in the pictures below, those lifeforms are very different from each other like the arthropod and the T-Rex, showing how life back then was as diverse as it is now. And in the future, the fossils show how other organisms in the future could possibly evolve from today and how organisms today (including humans) could become fossils as well and scientists in the future could be looking at them. Also fossils show us, through DNA and physical appearance, that we all originate from one common ancestor, which was a part of Darwin's theory of evolution.
How have recent discoveries in Genetics supported Darwin’s original theory of common ancestry?
Recent discoveries in genetics supports Darwin's theory of common ancestry in several ways. Some examples are of biologists finding fossils from ages ago where it gives further connection to how animals then were connected by their common ancestor. And then using the DNA from the fossils, biologists can also compare that DNA to the modern animals today and then by connection, modern animals today are connected to the theory of a common ancestor by using fossils. And these fossils are being found almost everyday, so the progression of the theory being backed up by facts from fossils and many different sources.
Fossil evidence clearly shows that life is old and has changed over time. Because in fossils, some organisms have similar features to ones today but are slightly different in aspects such as skull size/shape, teeth size, etc. These fossils are connected to modern organisms with DNA connections that are found in the nucleus (more in DNA Information section), and scientists can then see how these organisms have evolved and how natural selection/theory of evolution is proven.
What can fossils tell us about diversity of organisms in the past and the future?
Fossils tell scientists and others about the diversity of the organisms in the past that they lived in. As shown in the pictures below, those lifeforms are very different from each other like the arthropod and the T-Rex, showing how life back then was as diverse as it is now. And in the future, the fossils show how other organisms in the future could possibly evolve from today and how organisms today (including humans) could become fossils as well and scientists in the future could be looking at them. Also fossils show us, through DNA and physical appearance, that we all originate from one common ancestor, which was a part of Darwin's theory of evolution.
How have recent discoveries in Genetics supported Darwin’s original theory of common ancestry?
Recent discoveries in genetics supports Darwin's theory of common ancestry in several ways. Some examples are of biologists finding fossils from ages ago where it gives further connection to how animals then were connected by their common ancestor. And then using the DNA from the fossils, biologists can also compare that DNA to the modern animals today and then by connection, modern animals today are connected to the theory of a common ancestor by using fossils. And these fossils are being found almost everyday, so the progression of the theory being backed up by facts from fossils and many different sources.