Fossil records date back to the time when 1st life forms were found on this earth. Hence in order to know about the information of what happened there and many other queries, fossil records are a must.
useful support for his theory
The discontinuities in the fossil record that seemed to show that some species or taxons were in a state of non-evolution and then seemed to go through a burst of rapid evolutionary change. This is really only seen in the fossil record and does not have a lot of support in disciplines such as molecular genetic, which genetic divergence back through time in today's genomes.
Darwin predicted that the fossil record would either prove or falsify his theory. Darwin realized the difficulty the fossil record (missing links) gave his theory when he said, "Why, if species have descended from other species by fine graduation, do we not everywhere see innumerable transitional forms? Why is not all nature in confusion, instead of the species being, as we see them, well defined?" Today, top evolutionists know that Darwin's predictions of what the fossil record would reveal have failed.
Answer 1For Example, You find a fossil of a creature from a certain timeline, then you find the same creature with some changes in a timeline later than the previous and if you have enough fossils you can see how the organism appears at its earliest place in the fossil record( some organisms only appear in the fossil record once they have evolved in a way that makes fossilization possible eg shell, jellyfish are very rare in fossils because they are mostly water) and see the organism change over time into a completely different animal through a series of consecutive glimpses of the creature.Answer 2The absence of transitional forms (fossil record) is an insurmountable hurdle for all evolutionists.Answer 3The fossil record, with its many diverging progressions of traits and morphological intermediates, illustrates the changing of life forms as they diverge from their common ancestors towards more modern forms, matching seamlessly the nested hierarchies of modern morphology. Even without the fossil record, we would have had a pretty good picture of our evolutionary past - with it, we can give shape to the forms that came before us.
Evolutionary theory
It is generally thought to support the Theory of Evolution.
Fossils that show transitional forms between major groups of organisms, like Tiktaalik for fish to tetrapods, Archaeopteryx for reptiles to birds, and Homo habilis for early human evolution, are important for evolutionary theory as they provide evidence for common ancestry and evolutionary change over time.
Some important questions to ask about evolution include: How does natural selection work? What evidence supports the theory of evolution? How does genetic variation contribute to evolution? What role do environmental factors play in driving evolution? How does the fossil record provide insights into evolutionary history?
Evidence used to support evolutionary theory includes the fossil record showing the progression of species over time, comparative anatomy and genetics showing shared traits among different species, and the observation of natural selection acting on populations leading to adaptation and speciation.
useful support for his theory
The fossil record provides physical evidence to support the scientific theory of evolution by showing the gradual changes in species over time. Fossils of transitional forms between different species are key pieces of evidence that illustrate the process of evolution. Studying fossils helps scientists understand the diversity of life on Earth and how species have evolved and adapted to changing environments.
Gould's greatest contribution to science was the theory of punctuated equilibrium which he developed with Niles Eldredge in 1972. The theory proposes that most evolution is marked by long periods of evolutionary stability, which is punctuated by rare instances ofbranching evolution. The theory was contrasted against phyletic gradualism, the popular idea that evolutionary change is marked by a pattern of smooth and continuous change in the fossil record.
The common ancestry theory proposes that all living organisms on Earth share a common ancestor. This idea is supported by evidence from evolutionary biology, genetics, and the fossil record, showing similarities in the genetic code and biological structures across different species. It underpins the understanding of evolutionary relationships between organisms and the diversity of life on our planet.
Punctuated equilibrium is a theory in evolutionary biology that suggests species evolve rapidly in short bursts followed by long periods of stasis. This model contrasts with gradualism, which proposes a slower, constant rate of evolutionary change over time. Punctuated equilibrium helps explain the presence of gaps in the fossil record and sudden appearances of new species.
Personal beliefs and opinions are not a kind of evidence used to support evolutionary theory. Scientific evidence such as fossil records, DNA analysis, and observational data are the main sources of evidence.
Probably more in the line of many converging pieces of evidence in support of theory. Theory is explanation and fossils are just mineralized bones in the rock. which need and explanation. The fossil record supports the theory of evolution by natural selection and, some say, the theory of punctuated equilibrium.
Horses have a good evolutionary record because they have a well-preserved fossil record due to their large size and distinctive anatomy, making them easier to study. Additionally, horses have been extensively studied and researched by paleontologists and scientists, leading to a wealth of information on their evolutionary history. Finally, the evolution of the horse is considered a classic example of evolutionary theory, which has spurred further interest and research in this area.