Survival of the Fittest
The differences in organisms of the same species... this is why we are all different.
Variation
What animals did Charles Darwin observe that helped lead him to his theory of evolution?
Finches
Gradual change over time
Evolution
Those that are best suited to their environment are said to be...
Fittest
Any trace or remains of a once-living organism that has been preserved by natural processes.
Fossil
Organisms often have more ____________ than will realalistically survive.
Offspring
On what islands did Darwin conduct research for his theory of natural selection?
Galapagos Islands
Any kind of inherited trait that improves an organism's chances of survival and reproduction in a given environment.
Adaptation
Animals that have certain beneficial traits will survive better over time- survival of the best adapted- nature determines who will "win"
Natural Selection
An adaptation that allows an organism to blend in with its surroundings or perhaps to look like another organism. Both predator and prey alike have these adaptations.
Camouflage
When organisms try to get their fair share of a limited amount of resources.
Competition
Regarding the animals that Darwin studied... What did he specifically study about these animals?
Their beaks
Slang term that describes how organisms that possess the best traits or adaptations for a particular environment are the ones that will successfully pass down their traits to their offspring.
Survival of the Fittest
Structures that provide proof of evolution - These structures are remnants of our ancestors. We no longer use them, but they once served a purpose for our ancestors.
Vestigial Structures
This is when an organism "copies" the look of another organism.
Mimicry
The process whereby organisms that have advantages survive and pass their genes onto their offspring.
Natural Selection
The animals that Darwin studied had ____________ to live on the different islands, all of which had different food sources.
Adapted
These structures are built similarly and show that two organisms had close ancestors.
Homologous Structures
A group of genetically similar organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring.
Species
The random appearance of a new trait in an organism.
Mutation
Only those organisms who survive long enough to _______________ will be able to pass down their traits to their offspring
Reproduce
When groups of organisms that are the same species are separated for long periods of time and become new organisms that will no longer mate with each other.
Speciation
Structures that provide proof of how organisms have adapted to their environment - These structures are built differently but serve the same function. This provides proof that organisms must have adapted to their environment.
Analogous structures