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Related Concept Videos

The Fossil Record02:56

The Fossil Record

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The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...
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Phylogeny

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Phylogeny is concerned with the evolutionary diversification of organisms or groups of organisms. A group of organisms with a name is called a taxon (singular). Taxa (plural) can span different levels of the evolutionary hierarchy. For instance, the group containing all birds is a taxon (comprising the class Aves), and the group of all species of daisies (the genus Bellis) is a taxon. Phylogenies can likewise include just one genus (i.e., depict species relationships) or span an entire kingdom.
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What is Evolutionary History?02:35

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Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.
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Diversity of Protists III01:27

Diversity of Protists III

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Rhizaria are a diverse group of unicellular protists characterized by their threadlike cytoplasmic extensions known as pseudopodia. These structures aid in both locomotion and feeding, giving Rhizaria an amoeboid appearance. Their amoeboid morphology once led to taxonomic confusion, but molecular phylogenetics has clarified their evolutionary placement and emphasized their shared use of pseudopodia despite divergent lineages.This clade comprises diverse lineages such as Chlorarachniophyta,...
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The Evidence for Evolution02:55

The Evidence for Evolution

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Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
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The diverse plant life on Earth—consisting of nearly 400,000 species—can be divided into three broad categories based on biological characteristics: nonvascular, seedless vascular, and seed plants.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 24, 2025

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton
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Rare fossil implies deep roots for vertebrates.

Amanda Heidt

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |July 6, 2023
    PubMed
    Summary

    A 500-million-year-old tunicate fossil discovered in Utah is remarkably preserved, appearing almost unchanged since its death. This ancient marine invertebrate offers unprecedented insights into early Cambrian life forms.

    Area of Science:

    • Paleontology
    • Evolutionary Biology
    • Cambrian Fossils

    Background:

    • Discovery of a exceptionally preserved tunicate fossil in western Utah.
    • The specimen dates back approximately 500 million years to the Cambrian period.
    • Remarkable preservation allows for detailed morphological analysis.

    Discussion:

    • The tunicate's exquisite preservation challenges previous assumptions about fossilization processes.
    • Provides a rare window into the anatomy and appearance of early chordates.
    • Comparative analysis with modern tunicates highlights evolutionary stasis and divergence.

    Key Insights:

    • The fossil exhibits near-perfect preservation, retaining soft tissues and fine structures.
    • Offers direct evidence of tunicate morphology during the Cambrian explosion.

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  • Establishes a new benchmark for exceptional fossil preservation.

    • Outlook:

    • Further research will focus on microstructural analysis of the fossil.
    • Potential for discovering more exceptionally preserved fossils in the region.
    • Implications for understanding the evolution of early marine ecosystems and chordate origins.