Scientists modelled the conditions in which a soft-bodied marine animal might be buried. They placed three 10.0 g samples of the animal in sediment at 20 °C for 30 days.
| Sample | Oxygen present | Moisture present | Mass remaining after 30 days in g |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | No | Yes | 9.6 |
| B | Yes | Yes | 2.1 |
| C | Yes | No | 9.4 |
Explain what the results suggest about the conditions that could allow the whole shape of the animal to be preserved as a fossil.
Oxygen later enters the sediment containing sample A while the sediment remains warm and moist.
Suggest how this change would affect the chance of the whole shape being preserved. Explain your answer.
71 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Biology 6.3 The development of understanding of genetics and evolution, covering 6.3.1 Theory of evolution, 6.3.2 Speciation, 6.3.3 The understanding of genetics, 6.3.4 Evidence for evolution, 6.3.5 Fossils, 6.3.6 Extinction, and 6.3.7 Resistant bacteria. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.