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Question
how do scientists use fossils to draw conclusions about the evolution of life on earth?
ancient dna is preserved in fossils, allowing scientists to compare it to the dna found in modern life.
the fossil record becomes more complete as scientists dig deeper into earth.
fossils provide a complete record of all life that has existed on earth.
fossils can be dated, providing a timeline for when certain types of life existed on earth.
Brief Explanations
- Ancient DNA is rarely preserved in fossils in a form that can be compared to modern DNA.
- The fossil record is incomplete, and digging deeper does not necessarily make it "more complete" in a comprehensive sense.
- Fossils do not provide a complete record of all life on Earth due to factors like fossilization biases.
- Fossils can be dated using radiometric dating and other methods. This dating provides a timeline for when different life - forms existed, which is crucial for understanding the evolution of life (e.g., showing when certain species first appeared, diversified, or went extinct).
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Fossils can be dated, providing a timeline for when certain types of life existed on Earth.