Final answer:
Paleontology is the study of fossils and the history of life on Earth. Paleontologists use fossils to understand evolution and trace the changes in species over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Paleontology is a branch of biology that focuses on the study of fossils and the history of life on Earth.
Paleontologists are scientists who find and study fossils to learn about evolution and understand past life. They use fossils to observe and explain how life evolved over millions of years and how species interacted with each other and with the environment.
For example, paleontologists can examine the fossil record of horses to understand their evolutionary history. The fossil record shows how horses evolved from small, multi-toed ancestors to the large, single-toed animals we see today. By comparing the features of horse fossils from different time periods, paleontologists can trace the gradual changes that led to the development of modern horses.