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Fossil Record Darwin's theory of evolution holds that all life is related and can be traced back to one common ancestor. However, Darwin recognized that the lack of transitional species in the fossil record was a problem for the theory of evolution. •“The most obvious and gravest objection which can be urged against my theory (is the fossil record). Why...if species have descended from other species by insensibly fine gradations do we not everywhere see innumerable transitional forms?” Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species But, Darwin felt that the fossil record was simply incomplete and that future discoveries would turn up those transitional forms. This has not turned out to be the case. 150 years of archeology have failed to find the "innumerable" forms predicted. Some scientists suggests that perhaps these forms were not fossilized, the fossils have been destroyed or haven't been found yet. Other scientists argue that after so many years of searching the earth (and finding trillions of fossils that are not transitional forms) these transitional forms just don't exist - at least not numerable enough to support the theory as Darwin proposed it. This is a contested topic among some scientists and may surface in popular news in coming years. In your discussion, address the following questions - 1) Do you think transitional species in large numbers will be found eventually? 2) Does the lack of transitional species impact the theory of evolution? Why or why not?

Fossil Record

Darwin's theory of evolution holds that all life is related and can be traced back to one common ancestor. However, Darwin recognized that the lack of transitional species in the fossil record was a problem for the theory of evolution.

•“The most obvious and gravest objection which can be urged against my theory (is the fossil record). Why...if species have descended from other species by insensibly fine gradations do we not everywhere see innumerable transitional forms?” Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species

But, Darwin felt that the fossil record was simply incomplete and that future discoveries would turn up those transitional forms. This has not turned out to be the case. 150 years of archeology have failed to find the "innumerable" forms predicted. Some scientists suggests that perhaps these forms were not fossilized, the fossils have been destroyed or haven't been found yet. Other scientists argue that after so many years of searching the earth (and finding trillions of fossils that are not transitional forms) these transitional forms just don't exist - at least not numerable enough to support the theory as Darwin proposed it.

This is a contested topic among some scientists and may surface in popular news in coming years. In your discussion, address the following questions -

1) Do you think transitional species in large numbers will be found eventually?

2) Does the lack of transitional species impact the theory of evolution? Why or why not?

Fossil Record

Darwin's theory of evolution holds that all life is related and can be traced back to one common ancestor. However, Darwin recognized that the lack of transitional species in the fossil record was a problem for the theory of evolution.

•“The most obvious and gravest objection which can be urged against my theory (is the fossil record). Why...if species have descended from other species by insensibly fine gradations do we not everywhere see innumerable transitional forms?” Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species

But, Darwin felt that the fossil record was simply incomplete and that future discoveries would turn up those transitional forms. This has not turned out to be the case. 150 years of archeology have failed to find the "innumerable" forms predicted. Some scientists suggests that perhaps these forms were not fossilized, the fossils have been destroyed or haven't been found yet. Other scientists argue that after so many years of searching the earth (and finding trillions of fossils that are not transitional forms) these transitional forms just don't exist - at least not numerable enough to support the theory as Darwin proposed it.

This is a contested topic among some scientists and may surface in popular news in coming years. In your discussion, address the following questions -

1) Do you think transitional species in large numbers will be found eventually?

2) Does the lack of transitional species impact the theory of evolution? Why or why not?

Added by Annette P.

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