Why have studies of the geological record not enabled us to determine how life on Earth originated?
A) the first living organisms would have left absolutely no trace of their existence
B) life was planted on the Earth by an advanced civilization so there is no evidence in the geological record to find
C) the geological record does not extend back to the time that life originated
D) the oldest rocks are too deep inside the Earth for us to retrieve

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The geological record does not extend back to the time that life originated, as it is believed to have originated more than 3.5 billion years ago, while the oldest rocks on Earth date to around 4 billion years ago. Therefore, scientists have had to rely on other methods, such as studying the chemistry of early Earth and conducting experiments in the lab, to hypothesize how life may have originated.

Why Have Studies of the Geological Record Not Enabled Us