What is meant by "gaps" within living things or fossils?

a distinct and obvious lack of transition between all higher levels of taxa
specimens representing evidence for evolutionary transitions
missing links

1 answer

"Gaps" within living things or fossils refer to the absence of intermediate forms or transitional species in the fossil record or within the diversity of living organisms. These gaps represent the lack of evidence for the evolutionary transitions between different higher levels of taxa or the missing links in the evolutionary history of certain groups.

The idea of gaps in the fossil record is often used by critics of evolution to argue against the concept of common ancestry and suggest that it undermines the theory of evolution. However, it is important to note that the absence of certain transitional forms or missing links does not invalidate the overwhelming evidence supporting evolution. The fossil record is incomplete and biased due to factors such as the rarity of fossilization, the destruction of fossils over time, and incomplete sampling. Furthermore, new discoveries and advancements in scientific knowledge can often fill these gaps and provide additional evidence for evolutionary transitions over time.