Final answer:
The misconception regarding 'missing links' in evolution is based on a misunderstanding of evolutionary science and the fossil record. Evolution is not a process of linear stages but rather a branching one, and despite gaps in the fossil record, numerous transitional forms have been discovered that support evolutionary theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
One common misconception regarding evolution is the idea of 'missing links' in the fossil record. This misconception suggests that the lack of transitional fossils—so-called 'missing links'—undermines the theory of evolution. However, this view is based on a misunderstanding of evolutionary science and the nature of the fossil record.
Firstly, the term 'missing links' is misleading because evolution is not a linear process with neatly defined stages. Instead, it's a branching process where varieties of species evolve in different directions. Furthermore, the fossil record is inherently incomplete due to the specific conditions required for fossilization, meaning not all creatures leave behind fossils. In spite of this, numerous transitional fossils have been discovered that illustrate the gradual evolutionary changes between different species. A good example of this is the discovery of transitional forms between ancient fish and the first amphibians.
The understanding that complex structures, such as homologous bones in different species, share a common evolutionary past further refutes the idea of 'missing links.' It would be highly improbable for such complex structures to independently evolve in exactly the same way without a shared ancestral root. This is analogous to complex features such as the bones in the wing of a bat and the fin of a dolphin, which despite serving different functions, have a common structural design due to a shared evolutionary history.