Question

Which of the following does NOT describe how an observation of the fossil record supports the theory

of evolution?
A. Hard parts of animals, such as bone and teeth, are more likely to become fossilized than other
parts made of soft tissue.
B. The fossils found in rock layers of different ages are relate to, but different from, fossils found in
rock layers above and below.
C. The fossil record consist of links that provide evidence that some groups have a shared history,
such as the shared history between fish and reptiles or reptiles and birds.
D. A trilobite fossil shows structural similarities between modern species of the horseshoe crab,
suggesting the horseshoe crab is a descendent of the trilobite

Answer 1

Final answer:

The statement that does not support the theory of evolution through the observation of the fossil record is the claim that horseshoe crabs are direct descendants of trilobites, which is historically inaccurate. Therefore, the incorrect option is D

Step-by-step explanation:

The option that does NOT describe how an observation of the fossil record supports the theory of evolution is:

D. A trilobite fossil shows structural similarities between modern species of the horseshoe crab, suggesting the horseshoe crab is a descendant of the trilobite.

This statement is incorrect because it implies direct descent from trilobites to horseshoe crabs, which is not supported by the fossil record. The fossil record reveals changes in organisms over time, showing evolution rather than direct inheritance. In reality, horseshoe crabs and trilobites are separate lineages, although they may share a more distant common ancestor.