Evolution/Fossil Record Flashcard

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What is relative dating in geology?

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Relative dating is a method used to determine the age of rocks and fossils in relation to one another, without knowing their exact age.

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What does the Law of Superposition state?

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The Law of Superposition states that in undisturbed sedimentary rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest layers are at the top.

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Who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?

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Charles Darwin is credited with proposing the theory of evolution by natural selection.

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What do embryological similarities among species suggest?

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Embryological similarities suggest a common ancestry among different species.

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What is a fossil?

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A fossil is the preserved evidence of ancient life forms, often found in sedimentary rock.

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What is absolute dating?

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Absolute dating is a method used to determine the exact age of a rock or fossil, often using techniques like radiometric dating.

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What is the significance of sedimentary layers in geology?

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Sedimentary layers provide a record of Earth's history, including the types of organisms that existed at different times.

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What is the difference between relative and absolute dating?

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Relative dating determines the order of events without providing an exact age, while absolute dating provides a specific age for rocks or fossils.

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What is the principle of uniformitarianism?

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The principle of uniformitarianism states that the processes that shaped the Earth in the past are the same as those we observe today.

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What evidence supports the theory of evolution?

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Evidence supporting the theory of evolution includes fossil records, genetic similarities, and embryological development.