Ch 4 Vocab Flashcards
Species
A group of organisms that are closely related and can make to produce fertile offspring
Adaptation
A characteristic that improves an individual’s ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment
Fossil
The trace or remains of an organism that lived long ago, most commonly preserved in sedimentary rock
Fossil record
A historical sequence of life indicated by fossils found in layers of Earth’s crust
Trait
A genetically determined characteristic
Selective breeding
The human practice of breeding animals or plants that have certain desired traits
Natural selection
The process in which animals better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce better than those less well adapted
Generation time
The period between the birth of one generation and the birth of the next generation
Speciation
The formation of new species as a result of change over time
