When evolution was first proposed, which of the following was used as evidence to support the idea?

A.
observations of nature

B.
laboratory experiments

C.
extensive fossil collections

D. genetic sequences

The correct answer is C. extensive fossil collections.

When evolution was first proposed, the evidence that was primarily used to support the idea came from extensive fossil collections. Fossils are the preserved remains or impressions of organisms that lived in the past, and they provide us with valuable information about the history of life on Earth.

Paleontologists, scientists who study fossils, have discovered a wide range of fossilized organisms that exhibit distinct changes and transitions over time. They have found fossils of both extinct species and transitional forms, which show intermediate characteristics between different groups of organisms.

For example, the discovery of fossils like Archaeopteryx, a bird-like dinosaur, provided evidence for the link between dinosaurs and birds. Similarly, the discovery of fossils of early hominids, such as Australopithecus and Homo habilis, helped support the idea of human evolution.

By examining these fossils and comparing their anatomical structures, scientists were able to build a timeline of species and observe how they changed over time. This provided support for the concept that organisms have evolved and continue to evolve through a process of gradual changes over long periods of time.

While observations of nature, laboratory experiments, and genetic sequences have all played significant roles in supporting the theory of evolution, it was the extensive fossil collections that initially provided critical evidence for the idea when it was first proposed.

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