Evolution And Inheritence Flashcards
(18 cards)
What does adaptation mean
An inherited trait in an organism that makes them best suited for their environment.
What is the meaning of species
A class of animals or plants whose members have the the same main characteristics.
Meaning of inheritance
A passing of genetic information from parent to child through genes
Meaning of environment
Surrounding in which an organism lives or exists
Natural Selection meaning
The process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change
Trait
A particular characteristic, quality or tendency that someone or something has
Offspring
A person or animal’s child or young
Genetics
The study of how characteristics are passed on from one generation to another by means of genes
Fossilisation
The remains of a plant or animal becomes hard and forms fossils, instead of decaying completely
Decompose
Dead plants or animals change chemically and begin to decay
Sediment
Solid material that settles at the bottom of a liquid
Evolution
A process of gradual change that takes place over thousands of years, during which species of animals, plants or insects slowly change some of their physical characteristics
How are plants and animals adapted to their environment
Adaptation is when a plant or animal has changed in some way over a long period of time to be better suited to the environment in which they live
What is natural selection and how does it lead to evolution
Natural selection is when organisms that are best suited to their environment survive and pass on their genetic traits. At the same time, organisms that are less suited are likely to be eliminated from the ecosystem.
The fittest, most adapted organisms survive and multiply whilst the least adapted will die out. Natural selection is key to explaining evolution.
How do adaptations lead to evolution?
Animals and plants change over time and adapt to the surroundings in which they live. Darwin observed that there were many forms of finches that had different beak sizes and shapes. Once he considered the food sources of each finch, he noted the reason for these adaptations.
What characteristics can you inherit from your parents
When parents have offspring, they pass on their physical traits. The offspring inherit their parents’ qualities. This means that most offspring look like their parents but not identical. The offspring may take characteristics from the father, the mother or a mixture of the two.
How can fossils help us to explain evolution
Usually after most animals die, their bodies just rot away and nothing remains. However, under certain special conditions, a fossil can form. Fossils can give us information about animals that lived a long time ago such as how large the animal was, when it lived and what it ate. Plants can also be fossilised.
Charles Darwin
Was an English born evolutionary biologist, naturalist and geologist who was best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. He first formulated his theory in his book Origin of Species in 1859.
“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change”
