What is a fossil?

A fossil is defined as the preserved traces of organisms from the past, which typically includes remains of plants, animals, and microorganisms that have been preserved in various ways over geological time. This preservation can occur through processes such as mineralization, where organic material is replaced by minerals, or through impressions left in sedimentary rock.

Fossils provide crucial evidence about the history of life on Earth, including how organisms looked, lived, and evolved over millions of years. The study of fossils, known as paleontology, allows scientists to reconstruct past ecosystems and understand the evolutionary relationships between different species.

The other options do not accurately capture the definition of a fossil. The remains of current living organisms refer to the present-day species rather than preserved historical evidence. The genetic composition of organisms represents the DNA that defines the traits of an organism but does not constitute a fossil. Anatomical structures of extinct species may be part of what a fossil represents, but fossils encompass broader aspects, including traces and impressions, and are not limited to anatomical structures alone.