Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms that record the history of life.
Fossils form when organisms are buried quickly and minerals replace tissue. Rock layers (strata) are generally older at the bottom, and radiometric dating, for instance with uranium-lead or carbon-14, gives absolute ages. Transitional fossils such as Tiktaalik (fish with limb-like fins) and Archaeopteryx show intermediate traits.
The record is incomplete because fossilisation is rare.
Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms that record the history of life.
Fossils is one of the 53 topics in Evolution. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Ancient DNA, Natural Selection, Convergent Evolution.
The series of horse fossils shows changes in size, toes and teeth.
Fossils is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Evolution that pair well with it include Evolution, Natural Selection, Charles Darwin.
The closest topics to Fossils are Ancient DNA, Natural Selection, Convergent Evolution, Cladistics. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Fossils. To practise the whole of Evolution, use the Evolution quiz.
Fossils: Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms that record the history of life. Ancient DNA: Sequencing of DNA from fossils and remains to reconstruct population history, such as Neanderthal admixture. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Ancient DNA and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Evolution quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
Sequencing of DNA from fossils and remains to reconstruct population history, such as Neanderthal admixture.
🦎 EvolutionIndividuals with traits better suited to their environment survive and reproduce more, passing those traits on.
🦎 EvolutionUnrelated lineages evolve similar traits because they face similar selective pressures.
🦎 EvolutionA classification method grouping organisms by shared derived characteristics into clades.
🦎 Evolution