Fossil evidence for evolution Flashcards
What is palaeontology?
The study of fossils.
What are fossils?
The preserved or mineralised remains of an organism.
What is the law of superposition?
The sequences in which fossils are laid down in rock reflects they order in which they were formed: oldest fossils in bottom layers.
What is relative dating?
Using the positioning of fossils in rock layers to infer how old they are relative to one another. Used to determine the chronological sequence of the fossil.
What are some relative dating techniques?
Chemical analysis, stratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and paleomagnetic stratigraphy.
How is chemical analysis used in relative dating?
Involves measuring the amount of chemicals such as uranium in the bones. The longer the time, more chemicals have been exchanged between the bone and its surroundings.
