Question

1. practice: evolution through natural selection

question 1
how does the fossil record provide empirical evidence for evolution?
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question 2
whats a geographic variation in the fossil record?
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question 3
how do fossils support evidence of the phylogenetic tree?

Explanation:

For Question 1: Fossils show a chronological sequence of life - forms. Older fossils are from more primitive organisms, and younger ones are more complex, indicating evolutionary change over time.
For Question 2: Geographic variation in the fossil record means that different regions have distinct fossil assemblages. This can be due to past differences in habitats, climates, and evolutionary histories in those areas.
For Question 3: Fossils provide physical evidence of ancestral - descendant relationships. Fossils of extinct species can fill in the "gaps" on the phylogenetic tree, showing how different lineages are related and how traits have evolved over time.

Answer:

Question 1: Fossils show a chronological progression of life - forms from simpler to more complex over time, providing evidence of evolution.
Question 2: Different regions have distinct fossil assemblages due to past habitat, climate, and evolutionary history differences.
Question 3: Fossils of extinct species can fill in gaps on the phylogenetic tree, demonstrating ancestral - descendant relationships and trait evolution.