Fossil Evidence
What is the Fossil Record?
All fossils and the information they provide
What does extinction mean?
When all members of a species die out
Who studies plants and animals in nature?
Naturalist
What is an adaptation?
A trait that helps an organism survive
Who controls selective breeding?
Humans
What type of fossil shows footprints or burrows?
Trace Fossil
What tool do scientists use to organize Earth’s history?
Geologic time scale
What word describes differences within a population?
Variation
What adaptation helps organisms blend in?
Camouflage
What is selective breeding?
When humans choose traits to breed
What is a mold fossil?
An imprint left by an organism
Why are older fossils usually found deeper in the ground?
Newer layers form on top of older layers
What is natural selection?
Process where organisms with helpful traits survive and reproduce
What adaptation allows one species to look like another?
Mimicry
How is selective breeding different from natural selection?
Humans choose traits vs. nature choosing traits
What is a cast fossil?
A fossil formed when minerals fill a mold
How can extinction affect evolution?
It opens space for new species to evolve
Why is variation important for natural selection?
Some traits help organisms survive better than others
Why are adaptations important for survival?
They help organisms live and reproduce in their environment
Which happens faster: natural selection or selective breeding?
Selective breeding
Why is the fossil record considered incomplete?
Not all organisms fossilize / many fossils are never found
Why are fossils important for understanding evolution?
They show how organisms have changed over time
What happens to helpful traits over time?
They become more common in the population
Give an example of an adaptation and explain how it helps.
Any reasonable example (camouflage, sharp teeth, thick fur, etc.)
Why is selective breeding NOT considered natural selection?
Because humans make the choices, not the environment