Question

During an excavation assignment, scientists collected pollen grains of a plant preserved in deeper layers of soil. Analyse the properties of pollen grains which help in the fossilization.

Answer 1

Pollen has an outer layer called exine which is made of sporopollenin. It is the most resistant organic material known. It can withstand high temperature, strong acids and alkali as well. No enzyme that degrades sporopollenin is so far known.