Vocabulary
What is genetic variation?
Differences in traits among individuals in a population.
Why might a white rabbit survive better in snow?
Camouflage helps it hide from predators.
How is selective breeding different from natural selection?
Humans choose traits in selective breeding; environment determines success in natural selection.
True or False: Organisms change traits because they try hard.
False
What if food suddenly became scarce for birds with short beaks? Predict the population change.
Birds with better beak traits may increase.
What is natural selection?
Organisms with helpful traits survive and reproduce more.
In a population of rabbits, some individuals have long ears and others have short ears. In a cold climate, long ears lose heat more quickly. Which trait would likely increase in frequency over many generations in this environment?
What are short ears?
How can GMOs help food production?
Increase yield, pest resistance, drought tolerance, etc.
True or False: Individual organisms evolve during their lifetime.
False (populations evolve)
What if climate change alters an environment faster than reproduction occurs?
Population may decline or go extinct.
What is an adaptation?
A trait that helps an organism survive in its environment.
A population of beetles includes both green and brown individuals. Brown beetles blend better with tree bark in their forest habitat. Over time, the brown beetle population grows while the green beetle population shrinks. What term describes this process?
What is natural selection?
What is one risk of humans changing inheritance in organisms? (GMOs or selective breeding)
Reduced biodiversity, ethical concerns, unintended consequences.
True or False: Helpful traits always stay forever.
False—depends on environment.
What if all rabbits in a population were identical? How would natural selection be affected?
It would be limited because there is no variation.
What is inheritance?
Passing traits from parents to offspring.
Who is known as the Father of Natural Selection?
Who is Charles Darwin?
Why would someone be in support of gene editing?
To help with diseases
True or False: Mutations are always harmful.
False
What if a population of birds became separated by a canyon and could no longer mate with each other for thousands of years?
The two groups may develop different traits over time and eventually become separate species (speciation).
What is artificial selection?
Humans choosing organisms with desired traits to reproduce.
How is genetic variation related to natural selection?
It is what gives the species a better chance of surviving. Genetic variation is what keeps the population going.
Why can selective breeding reduce genetic variation?
Humans repeatedly breed only certain individuals.
True or False: The strongest organism always survives.
False – “Fit” means best suited to the environment, not strongest.
What if a new predator entered an ecosystem where rabbits vary in speed? Predict what may happen over generations.
Faster rabbits may survive more and become more common.