Investigation 1: I-Check Heredity and Adaptation

Front

What is the fossil record?

Back

The fossil record is all the fossils that have been discovered, providing evidence of past life on Earth.

Front

True or False: Fossils of organisms with hard parts, like bones and shells, are more common than those with soft parts.

Back

True

Front

What is a transitional organism?

Back

A transitional organism is a species that exhibits traits common to both an ancestral group and its derived descendant group, showing evolutionary change.

Front

Name an example of a transitional organism between fish and land animals.

Back

Tiktaalik is an example of a transitional organism between Eusthenopteron (a fish) and Acanthostega (a land animal).

Front

What does it mean if fossils are found in different layers of rock?

Back

Fossils found in lower layers are generally older than those found in higher layers due to the process of sedimentation.

Front

What is the significance of the order of fossils in rock layers?

Back

The order of fossils in rock layers helps scientists understand the relative ages of different organisms and the history of life on Earth.

Front

What type of organisms are more likely to be found in the fossil record: those with hard parts or soft parts?

Back

Organisms with hard parts, such as shells and bones, are more likely to be found in the fossil record.

Front

What is the role of sediment in fossilization?

Back

Sediment helps preserve organisms by covering them, preventing decay and allowing for fossilization over time.

Front

What can scientists learn from studying the fossil record?

Back

Scientists can learn about the history of life, evolutionary changes, and past environments by studying the fossil record.

Front

True or False: The fossil record provides a complete history of all life on Earth.

Back

False; the fossil record is incomplete and only represents a fraction of all organisms that have ever lived.