What are fossils?

Fossils are the remains of organisms from millions of years ago, which are found in rocks.

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Why are fossils used as evidence for evolution?

Fossils show us how species have changed over millions of years.

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Why are there not many fossils from the earliest organisms on earth?

  1. Early organisms were soft-bodied, so they did not fossilise well.


  1. Geologic activity has destroyed most fossils that formed so long ago. 

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What are the 3 ways fossils can form?

  1. Hard body parts, such as bones and shells, which decay very slowly, are gradually replaced by minerals, forming rock-like substances.


  1. Animals can leave impressions or casts, such as footprints or burrows. These become covered by layers of sediment, which eventually become rock.


  1. Some parts of organisms may not decay at all. For example, dead animals and plants can be preserved in amber, peat bogs, tar pits, or ice.

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What does extinction mean?

Extinction of a species occurs when there are no remaining individuals of a species still alive.

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Give 3 ways a species could go extinct.

There are too many to mention, but a few include:


  1. Rapid environment change, such as an increase in temperature.
  2. Reduction in habitat, as it could reduce food and living space.
  3. High levels of hunting as individuals are directly killed.
  4. The spread of a new disease, or introduction of a new competitor or predator.
  5. A catastrophic event, such as an asteroid strike.

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