Fossils are really important for understanding how new species come into being. This process is called speciation. Let's break down how scientists use fossils for this:
Looking at Old Life: Fossils give us a peek into the history of living things. Did you know that more than 99% of all species that ever existed are now extinct? Studying these fossils helps scientists figure out what features helped new species develop.
Changes in Body Shape: Scientists can look at the physical features of fossils and compare them to today's creatures. This helps them see how certain traits have changed over time. For example, the shapes of bird beaks in Darwin's finches changed based on what food was available on the Galápagos Islands.
Understanding Time: Fossils are arranged in a timeline that shows when different species appeared. The fossil record tells us that about 200,000 years ago, modern humans (Homo sapiens) showed up, which backs up ideas about how humans evolved.
Figuring Out Ages: Scientists use a method called radiometric dating to find out how old fossils are. This helps them create timelines for when new species were formed. By looking at different layers of rock, they found out that a big event called the Cambrian explosion, when many new species appeared, happened around 541 million years ago.
By using these methods together, scientists can piece together the story of evolution. This helps us understand how new species come to be and how they change to survive in their environments over time.
Fossils are really important for understanding how new species come into being. This process is called speciation. Let's break down how scientists use fossils for this:
Looking at Old Life: Fossils give us a peek into the history of living things. Did you know that more than 99% of all species that ever existed are now extinct? Studying these fossils helps scientists figure out what features helped new species develop.
Changes in Body Shape: Scientists can look at the physical features of fossils and compare them to today's creatures. This helps them see how certain traits have changed over time. For example, the shapes of bird beaks in Darwin's finches changed based on what food was available on the Galápagos Islands.
Understanding Time: Fossils are arranged in a timeline that shows when different species appeared. The fossil record tells us that about 200,000 years ago, modern humans (Homo sapiens) showed up, which backs up ideas about how humans evolved.
Figuring Out Ages: Scientists use a method called radiometric dating to find out how old fossils are. This helps them create timelines for when new species were formed. By looking at different layers of rock, they found out that a big event called the Cambrian explosion, when many new species appeared, happened around 541 million years ago.
By using these methods together, scientists can piece together the story of evolution. This helps us understand how new species come to be and how they change to survive in their environments over time.