Fossils as evidence of change
Preserved remains in layers of rock.
Stones with stories
In layers of rock, sand and mud, scientists find preserved remains of plants and animals.
What do you think the remains in the oldest layers look like, compared with those in newer layers?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Fossils are preserved remains of plants and animals in layers of rocks, sand and mud; older layers generally hold simpler organisms and newer layers more complex forms, recording how life has changed.
Stones with stories
In layers of rock, sand and mud, scientists find preserved remains of plants and animals.
What do you think the remains in the oldest layers look like, compared with those in newer layers?
- Simpler organisms in older layers
- More complex organisms in older layers
- The same in every layer
Down the layers
Press Next step.
Records of change
Fossils give evidence that diversity has changed over time. Generally older layers hold simpler organisms and newer layers hold more complex forms. From giant dinosaurs to early humans and ancient plants, some important fossils have been found in India.
Fossils are preserved remains of plants and animals in layers of rocks, sand and mud; older layers generally hold simpler organisms and newer layers more complex forms, recording how life has changed.
Notes
Fossils are preserved remains of plants and animals in layers of rocks; older layers hold simpler organisms, newer layers more complex forms.
Check yourself
What are fossils?
What do older layers generally contain?
What do newer layers generally show?
What do fossils help us understand?
- Preserved remains of plants and animals in layers of rock, sand and mud — correct. Yes!
- Living plants that grow on rocks. Fossils are preserved remains, not living organisms.
- Tools made by early humans. The book defines fossils as preserved remains of plants and animals.
- More complex organisms. Generally, newer layers show more complex forms.
- Simpler organisms — correct. Yes!
- No organisms. Fossils are found in layers, and older layers generally contain simpler organisms.
- Only simple organisms. Generally, older layers contain simpler organisms and newer layers show more complex forms.
- The oldest fossils. Older fossils are found in older layers.
- More complex forms — correct. Yes!
- How life has changed over millions of years — correct. Yes!
- How to name organisms in Latin. Binomial nomenclature, not fossils, is the system of naming organisms.
- Why plants are green. The book says fossils act as natural records of how life has changed.