Define fossils as the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms found within rock formations.
Describe the three primary mechanisms of fossilisation: absence of decay conditions, mineral replacement of tissues, and the preservation of traces like footprints.
Explain why the fossil record is incomplete, particularly noting the destruction of early soft-bodied organisms by geological activity.
Utilise the fossil record to analyse how significantly or minimally different organisms have evolved over geological time.
Extract and interpret complex evolutionary data from charts, graphs, and evolutionary trees.
