Fossils and evolution Flashcards
What is amber?
Amber is the prehistoric remains of tree resin. Amber sometimes contains animals or plant matter that has become caught in the resin as it was secreted
Order these facts for fossil formation:
1• The skeleton dissolves and a mould is formed
2• An Animal died, and it’s skeleton settles on the sea floor and is buried by sediment
3• The fossil is exposed on the earth’s surface
4• The Sediment surrounding the skeleton thickens and begins to turn to stone
5• Minerals crystallise inside the mould and a cast is formed
2, 4, 1, 5, 3.
Define a fossil.
A fossil is the remains or an impression of a prehistoric plant or animal that has been embedded in rock or preserved in a petrified form.
Define an impression fossil.
Impression fossils are a type of trace fossil. Impression fossils form when a leaf, shell, skin, or bone leaves an imprint in soft earth. When the imprint hardens, it forms a fossil in the shape of the original.
Define a preserved organism.
An organism that has been completely preserved (like a spider in amber.)
Define a mineral replacement fossil.
Minerals in the groundwater replace minerals in the hard animal parts or are deposited in the pore spaces of the organism. This replacement of organic materials hardens the animal part and preserves it as stone.
What is variation?
Variation is any difference between cells, individual organisms, or groups of organisms of any species caused either by genetic differences or by the effect of environmental factors.
Explain Natural Selection (Survival of the Fittest.)
Organisms compete for limited resources. Those that are best suited to the environment will survive and reproduce. Their genes that allowed them to survive will be given to their children.
Who opposed Darwin’s theory of evolution with this argument?
“There is no way that an organ as complex as the human eye could have evolved in stages. How could the separate parts of the eye, the lens, the retina, the pupil, and so forth, evolve in turn?
None of these structures by themselves would make vision possible. “
Richard Pope.
Name 3 ways that humans show variation.
- Eye colour
- Hair colour
- Height
- Mass
- Feet size
- Skin tone
- Facial features
The animal known as a Geffiosaur existed a long time ago. They originally ate two plants called the Talliplant and the Shortiplant. The Shortiplants were wiped out because of a disease. What feature are most likely to give an advantage to a Geffiosaur now?
Being tall and fast would help the Geffiosaur reach the Talliplant first and be able to eat the higher up ones.
Give a reason why the Dodo went extinct.
- It wasn’t very good at moving.
- It wasn’t afraid of humans.
- Animals like cats, dogs and rats liked to eat their eggs.
- Dutch sailors killed loads of them.
Who came up with the theory of evolution?
Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace (contributed with research and help.)
What is evolution?
In biology, evolution is the change in the characteristics of a species over several generations and relies on the process of natural selection. The theory of evolution is based on the idea that all species are related and gradually change over time.
Why was it hard for religious people to agree with Darwin’s theory at the time?
The bible claims that God made all the creatures whereas Darwin claimed otherwise. This made people upset if they believed strongly in the Bible.
