Fossil Records

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Fossil Records

It is often difficult to find complete fossil records because of the environmental and geological processes that affect the process of fossilization. The hard parts of an organism such as teeth, bones, and shells do not decay unlike the soft parts that rot naturally. However, in rare instances, soft parts can be fossilized if the organism is buried in oxygen-free sediment soon after dying before the decaying process begins. Over time, sediments cover the hard parts and mineralization occurs (Stephen, 2009). Minerals such as silica, pyrites or calcite that crystallize out of the water in the sediment usually replace the parts through compression.

The fossils formed are subjected to harsh geological processes such as erosion and subduction, and excessive pressure and heat. In turn, these conditions destroy the formed fossils reducing their chances of survival. Fossil records comprise of the fossils that have survived the harsh conditions and should be present at a location being explored by people for them to be found. In addition, the explorers surveying the possible locations of the fossils should be able to identify the fossils found. Fossil records are usually incomplete because there are few entries of fossils since the majority of the dead organisms do not survive to form fossils. Moreover, other existing fossils have not been unearthed and identified for them to be entered into the fossil records. These factors account for the incomplete fossil records (Stephen, 2009).

Despite the fact that fossil records are incomplete, their importance is indispensable. Taxonomists rely on fossil records in identifying the phylogeny or evolutionary past of an organism. They usually utilize the available data to place an organism in various taxa depending on similar molecular and anatomical characteristics provided by the data entered in the fossil records.

Reference

Stephen, D. (2009). The fossil record – the prodigal son returns. Charles Darwin & Evolution. Retrieved on 6 Oct. 2013 from http://darwin200.christs.cam.ac.uk/pages/index.php?page_id=f7