Question

Consider lineages, such as our own, for which the fossil record is fragmentary and incomplete. What disadvantages does this confer upon scientists trying to fathom the history of our species? What useful things can be learned from one or a few fragments of bone?

Answer 1

Fossil records -

They are useful for knowing about the

• Evolution of the species
• Their existance
• Their habitat and
• Their eextinction

If fossil records are incomplete :

Disadvantages :

• Difficulty in recognition of the ancestors
• Difficulty in knowing their habitat and evolution

From one or few fragments of bone :

• Age of the bone
• Size of the bone
• Sex of the person
• Cause of death etc

All these can be known from one or few fragments of fossil bone