Does the fossil record support evolution?
1 Answer
In general yes in details no
Explanation:
The Darwinian Theory of Evolution is more accurately described as descent with modification. This means that life evolved from a very "simple" single celled organism to the vast variety and complexity of life found in the world today.
In looking at geological strata in any particular place on the earth the simpler smaller fossils are generally found on the bottom layers. This strata logical evidence supports the theory of descent with modification.
However there are many places in the world where fossils deemed to be older are on top of fossils deeded to be younger according to the theory of descent with modification. This common disconformities are evidence against the theory of descent with modification.
The Darwinian Theory of Evolution postulates that all the changes in living things occurred by slow gradual steps that can be observed in natural changes occurring in the world today. There should be series of fossils showing the transitions between different types of organisms.
The fossil record does not show the uniform series of fossils predicted by the Darwinian Theory of Evolution. There are some notable transition fossils that have been found but not the series of fossils showing slow gradual changes. The Punctuated Theory of Evolution is a modification of the Neo Darwinian Theory proposed to explain the lack of observed transition fossils.
The so called Cambrian explosion is an example of the fossil record not following the predictions of Darwinian Evolution. Major phylums suddenly appear with no evidence of ancestors fossils or relationships between the major phylum.
So in general the geological column can be interpreted as supporting the idea of descent with modification. However the details of the fossil record do not follow the predictions of Darwinian Evolution.
