Why all the gaps in the fossil record?

Question

we are told to go to the fossil record for final, conclusive proof that evolution really did take place. You might imagine we would find a succession of fossils, for example, starting with shellfish, in which the hard shell gradually turns into a covering of scales, while part of it turns inside and grows into a backbone. At the same time, successive fossils would be developing a pair of eyes and a pair of gills at one end and a finny tail at the other. Finally, lo and behold, we would have a fish!
but instead each new kind of plant or animal—fern, shrub, tree, fish, reptile, insect, bird, or mammal—appears suddenly in the geologic column. This is the repeated testimony of the fossil record: Sudden appearance of new kinds of plants and animals—no precursors. Does this not suggest, to the unprejudiced observer, the creation of these new kinds in successive ages, rather than continuous evolution?

Answer 1

Think about this; Eyes CANNOT evolve. In any creature, they have to be fully complete to WORK. Given the Bible story of Noah's Ark, and using what logic we have been given, it is possible to believe that two CATS were taken on board, and from them all the earth's cat types developed. We see the results when breeders cross one type with another. The same applies to dogs. But they stayed CATS AND DOGS.
But it doesn't apply to horses and donkeys. One cross breeding to a mule, then the ability to breed again disappears. Same with lions and Tigers...both, again, cats.
(Genesis 1:20-22) And God went on to say: “Let the waters swarm forth a swarm of living souls and let flying creatures fly over the earth upon the face of the expanse of the heavens.” 21 And God proceeded to create the great sea monsters and every living soul that moves about, which the waters swarmed forth according to their kinds, and every winged flying creature according to its kind. And God got to see that [it was] good. 22 With that God blessed them, saying: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the waters in the sea basins, and let the flying creatures become many in the earth.”

Answer 2

As has been said very very few creatures become fossils so they rare compared with the creatures that have existed. Also generally it is only the bones that become fossilised and it is the soft tissue that is often involved when species are evolving. Never the less it is not as many creationists try to tell you that they are no examples of linking species in the fossil record there are quite a lot. Sometimes we do find the impressions in some materials and recently in China they found a new dinosaur (not a bird) with the impressions of feathers which suggests that feathers evolved from scales as a means of keeping warm rather that for flight purposes. Also quite recently in Egypt a fossil was found of an early form of whale. Another linking species. The process of evolution is an on going subject for discovery and research but we have enough evidence to say without an shadow of doubt that evolution has taken place even if we do not yet know all the specific details of the processes involved.
Creation in 6 days is of course just a myth made up by someone (it is suggested Noah) who did not have our knowledge and for political reasons

Answer 3

Well I'd like to see a decent citation for the claim that "we are told to go to the fossil record for final, conclusive proof that evolution really did take place". No respectable scientist would claim that.

For a kick off "evolution" refers to a number of theories that purport to explain how different species evolved. Secondly no theory is EVER conclusively proved, all theories are an attempt to describe the world and are always lacking in some areas.

One of the ways that current evolutionary theories are lacking is how we get new species/genus. We just don't know how it happened, yet. This doesn't mean that evolutionary theories are nonesense, just that they are incomplete. Are we to say that Einstein's general theory of relativity is nonesense because, try as he might, he counldn't include within it a decent explanation of the sub-atomic world?

On final thing, whilst you cannot prove any theory you can disprove it (no matter how many times you boil water at 100c you do not prove "water always boils at 100c", if you boil water half way up Everest ONCE you will see that water does NOT always boil at 100c). Your question seems to imply that we never see "intermediate" fossils, fossils that are part one thing and part another. This is not the case, we have the Archaeopterix which shows both reptilian and bird characteristics. This would seem to run contrary to a literal reading of Genesis. So although we don't know what did happen - we do have a disproof of literal-creationism.

Answer 4

I think you are right about the gaps in the fossil record - PROOF that everything as the bible says was created "according to it's kind". Unlike the evolution THEORY not fact. Darwin actually said that in future years (from his theory) the record would back him up showing evolution from one thing into another BUT IT DOESN'T. If he were alive today he would retract his beliefs.

I also think that the fossil gap isn't the only thing here judging by some of the answers to your question, there seems a bigger gap between the ears of those who support evolution.

It takes more faith to believe in evolution than in a God because the evidence in a creator is there for all to see.

Answer 5

Atheists, why are there maximum of gaps in fossil information? If evolution is actual, - How very fundie of you. considering you think of you have the finished know-how of the universe - goddidit - that all human beings has the finished know-how of the universe and that each and each fossil for 500 million years has been chanced on. in basic terms a fundie would desire to be this absurd. How come, no count number how stressful we attempt, we are in a position to by no potential locate the lacking links? - we've chanced on hundreds, you could desire to examine something different than fundie captions. a number of those lacking links got here approximately to be the main considered necessary links, isn't that ironic? - And in case you had the slightest little bit of know-how approximately which you question you would be attentive to they exist and have been cataloged. plus, how come some monkeys grew to become human beings whilst others merely stayed noticeably a lot the comparable? - back, the huge absurdity of a fundie you has examine in basic terms fundie captions. "Monkeys" did no longer, try being clever next time. i in my view have confidence, evolution shouldn't learn in public colleges till they finished the thought. - No "concept" is ever finished, it extremely is the character of a concept. The "concept" of gravity isn't finished, yet once you bounce out a window we are in a position to calculate precisely how briskly you will fall. Atomic "concept" is faraway from finished, we don't additionally be attentive to what an electron is, however the only way your computer works is with the help of the fact we understand "some" of the thought. try thinking particularly of believing.

Answer 6

There are gaps in the fossil record because animals fossilize only under extreme conditions. However, we've found enough fossils to show the transitions between most animals. And genetic evidence is really filling in the small gaps that remain.

Perhaps you should read more about current studies and findings, instead of relying on old outdated arguments.

Answer 7

Just not the case! It sounds like you've been exposed to 'creation scientists' who would have you believe that the fossil record is as you describe. This is what is known as a 'straw man' fallacy, in which you create a simple, flawed representation of what it is you wish to attack, making your job easy.
Of course there are gaps - we have only been scientifically studying it for less than a couple of centuries, but it is vastly more complete than you imply, and you really need to read up on paleontology.

A good start would be to visit this link

http://home.austarnet.com.au/stear/default.htm

it will not only give you a true representation of evolution, but it will expose a lot of the creationist lies and fallacies that you seem to be falling for.

Answer 8

because the fossil record is not kept all in one place like a library. There's missing stuff cause people have to actually go out and find it. plus, not everything becomes a fossil. The conditions have to be a certain way in order for something to become a fossil.

Answer 9

the gaps in the fossil record exist because only about one in a a couple of million bones actually gets fossilised. think about it, the being has to die on sediment rock and then almost immediately has to be cut off from oxygen. that doesn't happen too often, y'know. if the entire population of the us was to die right now, their fossilised legacy would only be about fifty bones, about a quarter of a skeleton. also, if you actually looked at a proper book on archeology for a change and not only creationist treatises you would find there are actually precursor species in the fossil record a lot of the time. what, for instance, about the archeopteryx?

Answer 10

Because Evolution did not think of you my dear so it did't provide as with a written script like the Bible but it did provide as with a real clue a DNA one and if you not able to conclude that evolution is real then nobody can help you,in the middle ages people like you burned witches and said the earth was flat.
So have a nice day and don't ponder too much it might hurt.

Answer 11

no offense but creation has no logical arguements, fossil records are very rare - otherwise their woulod be a new species every hour! i mean bloody hell! there was a peat bog found with 14 differant types of animal from a hardly known period of history. and these 14 were each completely differant families of creature (as in they weren't mammal, insect, reptile, amphibian or anything that we know today!