Fossil Record

Fossil Record Definition
A fossil record is a group of fossils which has been analyzed and arranged
chronologically and in taxonomic order. Fossils are created when organisms die, are
incased in dirt and rock, and are slowly replaced by minerals over time. What is
left is a mineral impression of an animal which once existed. Many fields and
specialties are utilized to categorize and arrange these fossils, including
comparative anatomy, radiometric dating, and DNA analysis. Using the data from the
fossil record, scientist try to recreate phylogenies, or trees describing the
relationships between animals, both alive and extinct. The fossil record helps
inform how different groups of animals are related through evolution.
A fossil normally preserves only a portion of the deceased organism, usually that
portion that was partially mineralized during life, such as the bones and teeth of
vertebrates, or the chitinous or calcareous exoskeletons of invertebrates. Fossils
may also consist of the marks left behind by the organism while it was alive, such
as animal tracks or feces (coprolites). These types of fossil are called trace
fossils or ichnofossils, as opposed to body fossils. Some fossils are biochemical
and are called chemofossils or biosignatures.
Two Main Types of Fossils
• Body fossils
•Trace fossils
Body fossils - are typically hard tissues like teeth, bone, or shells.
Trace Fossils
• Borrows
• Tracks
• Footprints
• Tooth marks
• Fecal matter (coprolite)
Determining Fossils Age

• Related dating
• Absolute dating
Related dating - establishes whether a fossil is older or younger than reference.
Absolute dating - is more exact , but dates in geologic time are spans of time.
Radiometric Dating
Scientific process of using the half-life of radioactive elements to establish the
absolute age of a fossil. Rocks contain trace amount of radioactive elements that
decay at specific rates.
The Oldest Fossils
When talking about the fossil record of life on Earth, the record goes back much
further. The oldest known rocks that have been analyzed are around 3.8 billion
years old. Tracing the minerals and hydrocarbons present in certain rocks has led
to the conclusion that some form of single-celled life was present around 2.7
billion years ago. Fossil impression of single celled organisms, thought to be some
early ancestor of plant and animal cells, can be found around 1.6 billion years ago
in the fossil record.
Different types of Evolution
1. Convergent Evolution
- species share a trait not due to a common ancestor.
Example: Birds, Bats and Butterfly
2. Co-evolution
-when the evolution of one species influences the evolutions another species.
Example: Cheetah to Anelo
3. Adaptive Radiation or Divergent Evolution

- descedents of a common ancestor evolve independtly and uniquely.
Example: Elephant, Whole it Mamet, Dogs, and Wolf
4. Parallel Evolution
-when independent species acquire similar characteritics while evolving together at
the same time in time same ecospace.
Generic makeup of a population refers to thethe amount of genetic variation within

that population and the variables that drive the genetic change. According to the
Harvey-Weinberg equilibrium, genetic variation will remain at a constant each
generation unless acted upon by the specific elements that cause the change.
These elements are
Selection-the ability of a certain genotype to have better rates of survival in

each generation (two types of selection: directional, overdominant)
Migration- the immigration of genes into and emigration our of populations will
cause change
Genetic Drift- random changes in allele frequency
Mutation- this is a random change at the molecular level of the organism that will
cause one of three effects in an individual's genome. It will either be an
advantage, disadvantage or neutral in the expression of the change.
Natural selection explains how organisms in a population develop traits that allow
them to survive and reproduce. Natural selection means that traits that offer an
advantage will most likely be passed on to offspring; individuals with those traits
have a better chance of surviving. Evolution occurs by natural selection.
Take the giant tortoises on the Galápagos Islands as an example. If a short-necked

tortoise lives on an island with fruit located at a high level, will the short-
necked tortoise survive? No, it will not, because it will not be able to reach the
food it needs to survive. If all of the short necked tortoises die, and the long-
necked tortoises survive, then, over time, only the long-necked trait will be
passed down to offspring. All of the tortoises with long-necks will be "naturally
selected" to survive. Organisms that are not well-adapted, for whatever reason, to
their environment, will naturally have less of a chance of surviving and
reproducing.
Every plant and animal depends on its traits to survive. Survival may include
getting food, building homes, and attracting mates. Traits that allow a plant,
animal, or other organism to survive and reproduce in its environment are called
adaptations.
How is this deer mouse well adapted for life in the forest?
Notice how its dark coloring would allow the deer mouse to easily hide from
predators on the darkened forest floor. On the other hand, deer mice that live in
the nearby Sand Hills are a lighter, sand-like color.

Fossil Record

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Fossil Record

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Fossil Record

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Fossil Record Definition

Determining Fossils Age

Related dating - establishes whether a fossil is older or younger than reference.

Different types of Evolution

3. Adaptive Radiation or Divergent Evolution

Generic makeup of a population refers to thethe amount of genetic variation within

These elements are

Selection-the ability of a certain genotype to have better rates of survival in

Genetic Drift- random changes in allele frequency

Take the giant tortoises on the Galápagos Islands as an example. If a short-necked

You might also like