Question

two scientists studied patterns of evolution in the fossil record. many species they analyzed showed periods of slow changes interrupted by a period of rapid change. this pattern of periods of slow change interrupted by periods of rapid change with few, if any transitional fossils, best describes the theory of - a natural selection b genetic drift c punctuated equilibrium d gene flow

Explanation:

Punctuated equilibrium is a theory in evolutionary biology that describes periods of stasis (slow change) interrupted by rapid evolutionary changes. Natural selection is a process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce. Genetic drift is the change in the frequency of an existing gene variant in a population due to random sampling of organisms. Gene flow is the transfer of genetic material from one population to another. The description in the question (periods of slow change interrupted by rapid change with few transitional fossils) matches the concept of punctuated equilibrium.

Answer:

C. punctuated equilibrium