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7. **Hipparion** is an extinct genus of horse that lived between approximately 20 million and 0.8 million years ago - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 7 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 7
7. **Hipparion** is an extinct genus of horse that lived between approximately 20 million and 0.8 million years ago. Figure 10 shows the skeletons of a **Hipparion*... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:7. **Hipparion** is an extinct genus of horse that lived between approximately 20 million and 0.8 million years ago - Edexcel - GCSE Biology - Question 7 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
Give one method that can be used to date a fossil of a Hipparion.
Answer
One method that can be used to date a fossil of a Hipparion is through radiometric dating. This technique involves measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes present in the rock layer surrounding the fossil, allowing scientists to estimate its age based on the known half-lives of these isotopes.
Step 2
Give one reason why scientists have concluded that the modern horse has evolved from Hipparion.
Answer
Scientists have concluded that the modern horse has evolved from Hipparion because there are observable similarities in the skeletal structure of both species. For instance, both possess similar limb structures, indicating a close evolutionary relationship. The pentadactyl limb configuration and comparable bone structure support this evolutionary link.