Fossil — Science definition
Defined in 2 courses:
- Remains or traces of past life preserved in rock through a rare sequence of events, so the record samples what was preserved rather than what lived. (Life Science & Scientific Inquiry)
- Any preserved remains or trace of a once-living organism, such as bones, shells, footprints, or even an insect preserved in amber. (Earth & Space Science)
Where it is taught
- Fossils, Rock Layers & Life History — Evolution, Evidence & Life History, Life Science & Scientific Inquiry, Grade 7
- Fossils & Relative Dating — Earth’s History, Earth & Space Science, Grade 9
In use
A fossil is what survives that extremely unlikely sequence, which is the single most important thing to know about the fossil record: it is not a sample of past life, it is a sample of the organisms that happened to die in the right circumstances and were later found.
Fossils, Rock Layers & Life History
A fossil is any preserved remains or trace of a once-living thing — and that's a broader net than most people expect.
Fossils & Relative Dating
Questions using fossil
Problem 1
Answer and explanation
Yes. It can preserve evidence of an organism’s activity and is a trace fossil.
Problem 2
Answer and explanation
Preservation, exposure, and sampling vary, so an organism may leave no detected record.
Problem 3
Answer and explanation
Preservation and exposure vary, and collections sample limited places and materials. Many organisms leave no detected fossil in that collection.
Problem 4
- A dinosaur footprint preserved in hardened mud
- A shiny piece of quartz
- A smooth river pebble
- A cloud formation
Answer and explanation
A dinosaur footprint preserved in hardened mud
A fossil is a preserved remain or trace of a once-living organism, and a footprint (trackway) counts even without any body parts.
Taught alongside
- trace fossil
- relative age
- extinction
- fossil record
- relative dating
- index fossil
- cross-cutting relationship