What is a direct fossil?
1 Answer
A direct fossil is one where entire parts of the organism is preserved.
Explanation:
An example of a direct fossil would be fossilized wood. Even though the organic material has been replaced with mineralized material the structure of the wood has been preserved, including the grain and tree rings.
An example of an indirect fossil would a mold of a clam shell. The outside shape of the clam has been preserved but no details of the inside have been preserved.
A controversial example is the finding of what appears to be the actual blood and tissue in dinosaur bones. This would be an extreme example of a direct fossil if it is determined to be found to be true. insects preserved in amber are also extreme example of a direct fossil as actual organic material still exists.
The direct fossil of dinosaurs blood would be incompatible with the current theories of organic evolution and descent with modification
