3. The fossil record provides evidence for evolution. Choose the statements that correctly describe the evidence for evolution provided by the fossil record. For full marks, you must choose all responses that apply. Marks will be deducted if you choose incorrect responses. A. All ancestral organisms can be found in the fossil record. B. The fossil record shows the appearance and disappearance of species. This supports the evidence that certain species evolved from ancestral forms (such as whales from a terrestrial ancestor). C. More recent fossils are most similar to species alive today. D. Evidence of mechanisms for change are preserved in the fossil record. E. Older layers of rock appear under newer layers of rock. This allows species to be placed in chronological order in the fossil record.

The correct answers are **B, C, and E**.<br /><br />Here's why:<br /><br />* **B. The fossil record shows the appearance and disappearance of species. This supports the evidence that certain species evolved from ancestral forms (such as whales from a terrestrial ancestor).** This is a core principle of how the fossil record supports evolution. The fossil record documents the emergence of new species and the extinction of others over time, and in some cases, like the whale, we can trace the lineage through a series of transitional fossils.<br /><br />* **C. More recent fossils are most similar to species alive today.** This reflects the ongoing process of evolution. As species evolve, they diverge from their ancestors. Therefore, fossils found in more recent strata will generally resemble present-day species more closely than fossils from older strata.<br /><br />* **E. Older layers of rock appear under newer layers of rock. This allows species to be placed in chronological order in the fossil record.** This principle, known as superposition, is fundamental to geological dating and allows us to understand the relative ages of fossils. By examining the order of fossils in different rock layers, we can trace the progression of evolutionary change.<br /><br /><br />Why the other options are incorrect:<br /><br />* **A. All ancestral organisms can be found in the fossil record.** This is false. Fossilization is a rare event, and the vast majority of organisms that have ever lived have not been preserved as fossils. The fossil record is incomplete, providing snapshots of life's history rather than a complete picture.<br /><br />* **D. Evidence of mechanisms for change are preserved in the fossil record.** While the fossil record shows the *results* of evolutionary change, it rarely preserves direct evidence of the *mechanisms* driving that change (e.g., natural selection, genetic drift). These mechanisms are typically inferred from other lines of evidence, such as genetics and comparative anatomy.<br />