Fossils Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Fossils?

Fossils are the remains or traces of organisms that lived in the past. They are found preserved in sedimentary rocks and can provide important information about the evolution and ecology of extinct species, as well as clues to past climates. Fossils range from microscopic single-celled organisms to giant dinosaurs, and they help us understand how life on Earth has changed over millions of years. Fossilization is a rare occurrence due to the unique combination of conditions required for it to happen. For an organism to be fossilized, its body or parts must be buried quickly by sediment before it can decompose completely. The burial process often involves hardening minerals seeping into soft tissues, resulting in casts or impressions that slowly petrify over time. Once petrified, fossils can remain intact for eons until discovered by scientists. The study of fossils is known as paleontology, a field that has grown exponentially since Darwin’s On The Origin Of Species was published in 1859. Scientists have used fossil evidence to piece together a timeline of life on Earth and prove the existence of extinct species like mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and giant ground sloths. Fossils also shine light on ancient environments and climate change allowing us to better understand how our planet has evolved over time. Fossils are not only valuable scientific artifacts but also crucial sources for energy production such as petroleum and coal both derived from ancient organisms whose remains were compressed under layers upon layers of sedimentary rock over millions of years ago. Ultimately fossils provide humans with tremendous insight into our planet’s biodiversity both now and in the past enabling us to make more informed decisions about conserving fragile ecosystems today.