How does the fossil record support the theory of evolution? A fossil record is a of fossils which has been and arranged and in taxonomic order. Fossils of the organisms are found in the rocks, and fossils of more organisms in the __ rocks. The fossil record shows: - that over time organisms have become more complex. - that over time there has been more diversity of life. - when certain organisms appeared,changed, or went extinct. - when there were mass extinctions on earth.

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How does the fossil record support the theory of evolution? A fossil record is a of fossils which has been and arranged and in taxonomic order. Fossils of the organisms are found in the rocks, and fossils of more organisms in the __ rocks. The fossil record shows: - that over time organisms have become more complex. - that over time there has been more diversity of life. - when certain organisms appeared,changed, or went extinct. - when there were mass extinctions on earth.

Answer 1

fossil record is a **collection** of fossils which has been **analyzed** and arranged **chronologically** and in taxonomic order.Fossils of the **simplest/oldest** organisms are found in the **oldest/deepest** rocks, and fossils of more **complex/recent** organisms in the **younger/higher** rocks.The fossil record supports the theory of evolution by providing tangible evidence of:* **Increasing Complexity:** The progression from simpler organisms in older rock layers to more complex organisms in younger layers supports the idea of gradual evolutionary change over vast periods. This doesn't mean *all* older organisms are simple, but there's a clear trend of increasing complexity over time.* **Increasing Diversity:** The fossil record demonstrates a branching pattern of life, with new species appearing and diversifying over time. This supports the concept of descent with modification, where existing species give rise to new ones.* **Appearance, Change, and Extinction:** Fossils document the first appearance of various life forms, track the changes they underwent over time, and record their eventual extinction. This provides direct evidence of the dynamic nature of life on Earth and the continuous process of evolution.* **Mass Extinctions:** The fossil record reveals periods of mass extinction, where a significant portion of life on Earth disappeared relatively quickly. These events are followed by periods of rapid diversification, supporting the idea that evolution can be influenced by large-scale environmental changes.

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