A paleontologist finds a plant fossil that shows evidence of a cuticle. What can the paleontologist conclude?

1 Answer
Apr 2, 2018

According the principles of uniformitarianism and Darwinian evolution the fossil must date about 450 million years old.

Explanation:

The cuticle protects the plant against dehydration. According to the theory of Darwinian evolution the cuticle developed as organisms moved from life in water to life on land. This transition is believed to have occurred about 450 million years ago.

A fossil that shows evidence of a cuticle would be dated according to the theory of evolution to be about 450 million years old.