what is the fossil record, and how is it used to study evolution?

Answer 1

"Fossils (from Latin fossus, literally "having been dug up") are the mineralized or otherwise preserved remains or traces (such as footprints) of animals, plants, and other organisms. The totality of fossils and their placement in fossiliferous (fossil-containing) rock formations and sedimentary layers (strata) is known as the fossil record. The study of fossils across geological time, how they were formed, and the evolutionary relationships between taxa (phylogeny) are some of the most important functions of the science of paleontology."

Answer 2

I believe the above have all explained it well. I would just like to add that Darwin added this evidence in to protect his arguments in the face of Creationism (that living things are made by God and that they do not change over time).

The fossil records clearly show that there are creatures vastly different from those found today. The people who support Creationism then claimed that those were God's earlier creatures, which did not change, but die wholesale (like in Noah's Ark) to make way for us. However, improvements in Science as well as happy coincidences show that the fossils gradually change with time and are clearly in support of evolution. This was helped by the carbon dating technique (I think), where using the stable 'radiation' given off, scientists can calculate quite accurately the age of the fossil.

With a whole host of other evidences from a wide range of disciplines like geography, taxonomy and common experience, Darwin was able to put forward his theory. Interestingly, there was another man who thought of the idea at practically the same time, but was not remembered even though they publish the historic book 'On the Origin of Species'. The reason? His name was second because it begins with some letter after D...

Answer 3

The fossil record is the remains of pre-existing animal life, preserved in sediments that have subsequently been transformed into rock. By studying the fossils in a specific layer of sedimentary rock, paleontologists can learn about the kinds of animal life that existed at the time that layer of sediment was deposited. By dating the layer of sediment where a fossil is found, through a dozen or so reliable methods of testing, they can determine how long ago that specific type of animal lived. Since older layers of sediment were obviously laid down before more recent layers, examining many layers of different ages can reveal the progression of animal types that have occurred over a very long span of time. We see that forms once abundant, like brachiopods and horseshoe crabs, not only changed in form over millions of years, but also became progressively less abunsant, while other forms that were once non-existent, like vertebrates, came into existence gradually, and not only changed drastically in form over long periods of time, but proliferated, becoming more and more complex, greater in size, and eventually became the dominant forms on earth. This kind of information is clearly demonstrated in the fossil record, and cannot be known any other way.
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Answer 4

The totality of fossils (all of them) and their position in rock formations and sedimentary layers that can contain fossils is known as the fossil record.

From studying the fossil records, we can see any transitions between species by observing physical features. In effect, we're looking at the history of life and the history of evolution.

To date fossils, we look at not only the position they have in the layers, but also date it using radiometric dating. Generally, potassium-argon dating is the most commonly used form, but argon/argon, uranium series and carbon-14 are also used.

Answer 5

By studying fossils and determining their age, paleontologist can reconstruct the tree of the evolution of life on earth, by comparing the structures of those fossils.