A hypothesis that explains how new organisms or new characteristics can appear suddenly in the fossil record is called:
A) punctuated equilibrium
B) natural selection
C) evolution

Question

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Punctuated equilibrium is a theory in evolutionary biology which proposes that most species will exhibit little net evolutionary change for most of their geological history, remaining in an extended state called stasis. When significant evolutionary change occurs, the theory proposes that it is generally restricted to rare and geologically rapid events of branching speciation called cladogenesis. This theory contrasts with the gradualism model of evolution, which suggests that evolution occurs uniformly and by the steady and gradual transformation of whole lineages (anagenesis).

A Hypothesis That Explains How New Organisms or New Characteristics