Common ancestors and transitional species
I can explain the importance of transitional species and common ancestors in the fossil record.
Common ancestors and transitional species
I can explain the importance of transitional species and common ancestors in the fossil record.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The fossil record includes species that appear to be the common ancestor of numerous later species.
- Evolutionary trees can be used to help visualise the relationships between groups of organisms.
- The fossil record includes transitional species with features of both evolutionary ancestors and modern species.
- A case study of an example of a transitional species (e.g. Archaeopteryx, which links dinosaurs and modern birds).
- There are gaps in the fossil record, e.g. ‘missing links’ between evolutionary ancestors and modern species.
Common misconception
Students often struggle to understand the concept of having a common ancestor and confuse it with one species being descended from another.
This lesson uses evolutionary trees to help students visualise the relationships between groups of organisms.
Keywords
Fossil record - All the fossils ever found, and their ages, provide a body of evidence called the fossil record.
Common ancestor - A species that several other species evolved from. For example, tigers and lions share a common ancestor.
Evolutionary tree - A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships between different groups of organisms.
Transitional species - A species that shows intermediate characteristics from evolutionary ancestors and modern species.
Equipment
None required.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
organisms from which current, living organisms are descended
changes in the characteristics of a species over many generations
changes in an individual organism during its lifetime
differences between living individuals of the same species
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Exit quiz
6 Questions
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a common ancestor of orangutans and humans
the most recent common ancestor of gorillas and humans
a common ancestor of chimpanzees and humans but not of gorillas
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