And 3 to 5 sentences, explain how the fossil record provides evidence for the idea of natural selection
1 answer
The fossil record provides evidence for the idea of natural selection by demonstrating a pattern of progressive change over time. Fossils of earlier organisms exhibit simpler and less specialized characteristics compared to more recent ones, indicating an evolutionary trend towards complexity and specialization. Additionally, transitional fossils, such as Archaeopteryx, display intermediate characteristics between two different groups of organisms, supporting the idea of gradual evolution. Furthermore, the presence of extinct species in the fossil record suggests that these organisms were not well adapted to their environment and were outcompeted by more adapted individuals, implying natural selection played a role in shaping the diversity of life.