Theory of Natural Selection

Question 1

natural selection

Answer 1

a mechanism by which individuals that have inherited beneficial adaptations produce more offspring on average than do other individuals.

Question 2

adaptation

Answer 2

an inherited trait that is selected for over time because it allows organisms to better survive in their environment

Question 3

artificial selection

Answer 3

a process in which humans modify a species by breeding it for certain traits

Question 4

heritability

Answer 4

the ability of a trait to be passed from one generation to the next

Question 5

fitness

Answer 5

the measure of an organism’s ability to survive and produce offspring releative to other members of a population

Question 6

theory

Answer 6

a carefully thought-out explanation for observations of the natural world that has been constructed using the scientific method

Question 7

genetic variation

Answer 7

the presence of differences in sequences of genes between individual organisms of a species

Question 8

trait

Answer 8

a specific characteristic of an individual

Question 9

competition

Answer 9

the competing for resources that will help an organism(s) survive to pass on their traits

Question 10

population

Answer 10

a group of the same organism living in the same place

Question 11

mutation

Answer 11

the changing of the structure of a gene, resulting in a variant form that may be transmitted to subsequent generations

Question 12

gene

Answer 12

are made up of sequences of DNA and they are the basic units of heredity passed from parent to offspring