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===Fossil Record===
[[Paleontology]] (the study of fossils) supports Darwin's original idea that all living creatures are related and that accumulated changes over long periods has lead to the diverse forms of life we see today.
The field of Paleontology was developed by [[Georges Cuvier]] (1769-1832). Cuvier noted that each layer of sediment was defined by a specific group of fossils. The deeper (older) the layer, the more simplistic the life forms. He also noted that many forms of life that existed in the past are no longer represented in the present. Cuvier proposed the idea of catastrophism, which he used to explain the fossil record in the light of the theologian views of his time. He proposed that catastrophes occurred in localized areas throughout the earth’s history. Such areas were then repopulated by species that migrated in from nearby locations. Such explanations were supported by the biblical text, such as the case of Noah’s flood. This view is no longer held in favor.
Today, the fossil record is more complete. The fossil record now serves as a chronological record documenting the emergence of new, more complex species from simpler ancestral forms. The fossil record also provides some examples of transitional species that provide evidence of ancestral links between species that exist today.
Perhaps the best know of these transitional fossils is [[''Archaeopteryx'']], an ancient fossil that has the distinct characteristics of a reptile, yet clearly possess the feathers of a bird. The implication from such a find is that modern reptiles and birds arose from a common ancestor.
===Comparative Anatomy===
===Artificial Selection===
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