Why does the fossil record have gaps?
2 Answers
We don't have evidence for all time periods.
Explanation:
The fossil record contains many 'gaps'. This is because scientist haven't yet uncovered any form of evidence which indicates the existence of organisms at those points in time.
No one knows why or if gaps truly exists.
Explanation:
Darwinian Evolution is a naturalistic theory based on the principles of uniform process. According to Darwin descent with modification occurred in slow gradual steps. He predicted that as more fossil evidence was found that a series of transitional fossils would be found showing the gradual transformation of organisms from the simple to complex as required by his theory.
As the fossil record has become much more complete the slow progression of transitional fossils has not been found. On the contrary the fossil record instead of a series of gradual changes seems to indicate sudden changes followed by long period of stasis leaving huge gaps between organisms. thought to be ancestors of of each other.
A prime example of the gaps is the so called Cambrian Explosion. all major aquatic phylum suddenly appear in the fossil record with no indications of transitional fossils that came before the them. This is a major gap in the fossil record.
Punctuated Equilibrium was an attempt to explain the gaps in the fossil record. It was very popular for a while but has since follow from favor. The idea of Punctuated Equilibrium was that isolated populations mutated creating the new types of organisms but leaving few fossils of the transitions because it was a small isolated population. Then these new types of organisms would released on the wider population where there "advanced" structure provided an natural selection advantage causing them to become the dominate form hence leaving multiple fossils of only the advanced form.
Perhaps Darwin's Theory of descent with modification based on uniform principles is wrong. Good theories make good predictions. In regards to the fossil record and the huge unfilled gaps between types of organisms Darwin's theory made bad predictions. Bad theories make bad predictions. The gaps in the fossil record indicate that possibly descent with modification is a bad theory
