The Beginning of Life - The Fossil Record Flashcards
What does evidence of certain traits suggest?
Evidence suggest that all existing organisms she certain traits, including cellular structure and the genetic code, DNA.
What does this evidence suggest?
This would mean that all existing organisms share a common ancestor and evolved from very simple living things.
What sources support this evidence?
The fossil record and DNA evidence
How can fossils be formed from organisms?
Fossils can be formed from the hard parts of organisms that don’t decay easily
Fossils can be formed from the soft parts of organisms that can be replaced by minerals as they decay. This can preserve traces of footprints or burrows.
How can fossils be formed from animals and plants?
Parts of animals and plants that haven’t decayed because one of more of the conditions needed for decay were absent