UC Berkeley
Image Caption
We expect to see a jump in the fossil record if evolution has occurred as a "quick" jump, but a jump in the fossil record can also be explained by irregular fossil preservation. This possibility can make it difficult to conclude that evolution has happened rapidly.
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This image is part of a series:
Pace of evolution (1 of 3) Slow and steady
The preservation of many transitional forms, through layers representing a length of time, gives a complete record of slow and steady evolution.