[Campbell Biology P.574] Based on the provided page, what is the primary significance of the... | Practice Question

Based on the provided page, what is the primary significance of the fossil record in documenting the history of life on Earth?

  • A: It primarily describes the conditions on early Earth that made life possible.
  • B: It serves to demonstrate that evolution is not goal-oriented.
  • C: It documents the sweeping changes in life forms over time, including transitions like those from land to sea.
  • D: It primarily explains how major changes in body form result from developmental genes.

Explanation

Figure 25.1 and Key Concept 25.2 emphasize that the fossil record documents the sweeping changes in life forms over time, using the example of ancient whale fossils found in the Sahara Desert which documented the transition from land to sea.