Question

Explain the importance of fossils in organic evolution.

Answer 1

Hint: The dead and decayed material is helpful in every way. They get decomposed but are useful afterwards. Some of them are converted into manure while some are the remains of the past. Studying the time of evolution is very important to know one’s ancestry and belongings. Father of evolution is Charles Darwin, who gave the book ‘Origin of Species’.

Complete answer:
What are fossils?
The preserved remains of the past geological age which were once living is a fossil. It can be a remain, an impression or a trace of the existence of that matter.

They are usually made when the plant or animal dies in the soil or watery environment, they decompose over thousands of years, giving us the fossil. Examples of fossils are coal, exoskeletons, oil, DNA remnants etc.

Fossils have made an important contribution to the organic evolution
- They are useful in comparing the characteristics of the organisms.
- We can determine the time of its death and read about that particular period.
- The organs present today can be compared to them to know the similarities and dissimilarities.
- We can know about common ancestors.
- We can predict the age of the Earth and the first residents here.

Note: Fossil usually includes the extinct species which no longer exist now. Palaeontology is the study of the fossils. The Earth’s life has been changing throughout, so the rocks that are found as fossils differ with time. Most of the fossils are of the invertebrates as they make 90% of the living animals.