Question

Darwin had very few fossils to support his theory of evolution by means of natural selection when he published On the Origin of Species. Why are fossils considered essential for the study of biological evolution?

Answer 1

Answer:

Fossils plays an important role in the field of biological study. It is because it acts as key evidence for the evolution that has been occurring on earth since the time of origin of earth.

These fossils are valuable as they are found to be embedded in the sedimentary rocks of about millions and billions of years old. The study of these fossils enabled scientists to understand how life evolved from single-celled organisms to the present day complex organisms. The initially occurring organism was comparatively small and soft-bodied, and so are rarely found. But in today's world, the organisms existing are much different and structured in a well-defined pattern, and this helped in the understanding of the evolutionary pattern of life on earth and also explains the key factors that are responsible for the occurrence of evolution.

Thus, these fossils are considered to be very much essential for studying biological evolution.