Evidence from fossil records

Carpo, Monic Mae R.

Ragos, Aira collene S.
 FOSSILS
• Examples of evidences that paleontologists use in
studying evolution.
• Traces of organisms that lived in the past and
were preserved by natural process and events.
• Can be remains of organisms which include bones,
shells, teeth and also feces embedded in rocks,
peaks, resin, and ice.

Paleontologist is a person who studies fossils.

 DETERMINING THE AGE OF FOSSILS
• Fossils are commonly found in sedementary rocks.

• Paleontologists make initial estimates of the age

through the position in the sedimentary rocks.
• Fossils found in the bottom layer are much older
than those found in upper layer of rocks.
 RELATIVE DATING
• Method used to determine the age of the rocks by
comparing them with the rocks in the other layer.
• The younger sedimentary rock layer is assumed to be
found on top and the older rock is found at the
bottom layer.
• The fossils of invertebrates found at the bottom
part of the rock layer suggest that invertebrates
are probably one of the first and oldest organisms
that lived on earth.
 RADIOMETRIC DATING
• Method used by the use of radioactive isotopes such
as carbon-14.
• It is use to determine the age of rocks using the
decay of radioactive isotopes present in rocks.
• All organisms have decaying carbon-14 in it.
• When an organism dies, carbon-14 starts decaying to
form nitrogen-14.
• Scientists determine the age of the fossil by
checking the amount of carbon-14 in it.