Fossils (OCR GCSE Biology A, Combined (Gateway Science Suite)): Flashcards
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Definition of fossils
Definition of fossils
Preserved remains/traces of organisms from millions of years ago
Where fossils are typically found
Where fossils are typically found
Embedded in rock layers
Conditions needed for preservation without decay
Conditions needed for preservation without decay
Absence of oxygen or moisture
What happens in mineral replacement?
What happens in mineral replacement?
Organic parts (teeth, shells, bones) are replaced by minerals forming rock-like structures
Parts replaced by minerals in fossils
Parts replaced by minerals in fossils
Teeth, shells, and bones
Type of fossil formed from footprints or burrows
Type of fossil formed from footprints or burrows
Preserved traces
Examples of preserved traces in fossils
Examples of preserved traces in fossils
Footprints, burrows, or rootlets
What fossils provide evidence for
What fossils provide evidence for
Evolution and history of life on Earth
What evolutionary trees show
What evolutionary trees show
Relationships between species
Why early life forms left few fossils
Why early life forms left few fossils
Most were soft-bodied and decayed completely
What destroyed early traces of life over time
What destroyed early traces of life over time
Geological processes like erosion, volcanic activity, and tectonic movements
How fossils trace evolutionary history
How fossils trace evolutionary history
By comparing anatomy changes across different time periods