Fossil Evidence of Evolution

Question 1

What is fossil evidence known as?

Answer 1

• palaeontological evidence

Question 2

What does palaeontological evidence show?

Answer 2

• micro-evolution and macro-evolution

Question 3

How does the fossil evidence show that evolution has occurred?

Answer 3

• they provide detailed information and evidence of systematic change through time => of descent with modification

Question 4

What can be seen in the fossil record?

Answer 4

• increase in complexity: simple organisms appeared first
• increase in diversity
• more extinct species as one moves back in time
• existence of intermediate forms between groups (transitional fossils)
• overall increase in size, from a starting point of tiny unicellular organisms