The field of paleontology changed naturalist's views of biodiversity by showing? a. species were neither perfect or permanent

b. only acquired traits could be passed from parents to offspring

c. only inherited traits can be passed from parent to offspring

d. could be classified into increasingly general categories based on morphology

Question

Biology

Walter Ashley

17 February, 15:18

The field of paleontology changed naturalist's views of biodiversity by showing? a. species were neither perfect or permanent

b. only acquired traits could be passed from parents to offspring

c. only inherited traits can be passed from parent to offspring

d. could be classified into increasingly general categories based on morphology

+4

Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Brody Cohen · Answer 1

Answer: alternative A.

Explanation: Fixism was a current theory during biology history, and it stated that species were always like they are at the present time, not being able to change during time. Darwin's evolutionary theory, developed at the 19th century, said the opposite: species were able to change and they still do it. One way to prove it was studying fossils and its morfologycal characteristics in order to link them to more recent species, and establish a taxonomical connection between them. The study of fossils is know as paleontology, and it this way it changed the naturalist's views.

Caitlin Armstrong · Answer 2

A.

Explanation:

Paleontology studies fossils, which show morphological modifications as compared to their living relatives. Furthermore, fossils may show series of gradual modification or a series of related species or genera. All this is inconsistent with the view that species are perfect or permanent, but rather change is the only constant.