Fossils are the mineralised remains of once-living organisms, or of traces left behind by organisms.

All the fossils ever found, and their ages, provide a body of evidence called the fossil record.

An extinct species has no living members.

The process in which the characteristics of species change over many generations, sometimes becoming new species.

The fossil record provides evidence for evolution

Combined science

Common ancestors and transitional species

Selective breeding and human food security

The evolution of new species

Pupils will learn about random genetic mutation as a source of heritable variation, and that evolution occurs through the natural selection of genetic variants linked to advantageous phenotypes that are best suited to the environment.

Pupils learned that (phenotypic) variation between individuals of the same species means some individuals are better adapted to compete, which can lead to natural selection and cause the heritable characteristics of a species to change (evolve) over generations.

This unit explores evidence for evolution, including fossils and antibiotic resistance. It covers selective breeding, Darwin and Wallace’s contributions to natural selection, and evolution as changes in inherited traits over time. It also examines how scientific theories evolve over time.

Fossil evidence, selective breeding and explaining evolution

When a rock contains the mineralised remains of a once-living organism, it is said to contain a ...

How old are the oldest fossils ever found?

How old are the newest fossils ever found?

the mineralised remains of a single dead organism

all the fossils ever found and their ages

changes in the characteristics of a species over many generations

Match each term to the correct definition.

Which fossil is the most recent evolutionary ancestor of the modern whale?

What every individual in the species looked like.

What similarities are shared between modern species and their ancestors.

How the characteristics of species have changed (evolved) over time.

How many organisms existed in a particular time period.

The reasons why some species became extinct.

the mineralised remains of an organism in a rock

Which of these things could become a fossil?

Which of these things could **not** become a fossil?

Aisha: “Jellyfish live in the ocean. Fossils can’t form there.”

Lucas: “It moves around too much and won’t get trapped in rock.”

Izzy: “It has a soft body and no bones, so a body fossil won’t form from it.”

Who correctly explains why it is unlikely that a jellyfish could become a fossil?

True or false? Every organism that dies becomes a fossil.

The organism's remains are buried in a layer of sediment.

Water seeps through and dissolves the remains of the organism.

Minerals in the water replace the remains.

Put the statements in order to explain how a dead organism can be turned into a fossil.

The fossil record provides evidence for evolution

Lesson outcome