How have fossils contributed to our understanding of evolution?

Fossils are important evidence for evolution because they show that life on earth was once different from life found on earth today. Paleontologists can determine the age of fossils using methods like radiometric dating and categorize them to determine the evolutionary relationships between organisms.

What are the sources of evidence for evolution?

Evidence for evolution: anatomy, molecular biology, biogeography, fossils, & direct observation.

Did rabbits exist during dinosaurs?

Some paleontologists claim that ancient relatives of modern groups such as rabbits can be found in the fossil record tens of millions of years before the K-T boundary. “Our results basically say the divergence of the mammal group that includes lagomorphs occurred after the K-T boundary, 65 million years ago.

What important change in the atmosphere occurred during the Proterozoic?

Free oxygen in the atmosphere increased significantly as a result of biological activity during the Proterozoic. The most important period of change occurred between 2.3 billion and 1.8 billion years ago when free oxygen began to accumulate in the atmosphere.

Were there rabbits in the Precambrian?

Philosopher Peter Godfrey-Smith doubted that a single set of anachronistic fossils, however, even rabbits in the Precambrian, would disprove the theory of evolution outright. The first question raised by the assertion of such a discovery would be whether the alleged “Precambrian rabbits” really were fossilized rabbits.

Will the discovery of Precambrian mammals ‘blow evolution out of the water’?

Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins said that the discovery of fossil mammals in Precambrian rocks would “completely blow evolution out of the water.”. Philosopher Peter Godfrey-Smith doubted that a single set of anachronistic fossils, however, even rabbits in the Precambrian, would disprove the theory of evolution outright.

Did Haldane say the discovery of a rabbit in Precambrian rocks?

Several authors have written that J. B. S. Haldane (1892–1964) said that the discovery of a fossil rabbit in Precambrian rocks would be enough to destroy his belief in evolution. However these references date from the 1990s or later.

Did Haldane really say the rabbit would destroy his belief in evolution?

Several authors have written that J.B.S. Haldane (1892–1964) said that the discovery of a fossil rabbit in Precambrian rocks would be enough to destroy his belief in evolution. However these references date from the 1990s or later.