Genes & Genetics
A basic unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and determines some characteristic of the offspring
Gene
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment
Ecosystem
The process where two different species, like a predator and its prey or a flower and its pollinator, influence each other's evolution
Coevolution
A feature that helps an organism survive and reproduce more successfully than others in its environment
Advantageous Trait
The entire collection of all the different genes and alleles that exist within a specific population
Gene Pool
A group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area and can interbreed
Population
This process explains why distantly related organisms, like the wings of a bat and the wings of an insect, develop similar features because they live in similar environments or face similar pressures
Convergent Evolution
The observable differences in the characteristics of individuals within a population
Phenotypic Variation
A measure of how often a specific allele (version of a gene) appears in a particular population
Gene Frequency
The geographical arrangement or spread of a species across a specific area
Distribution
This occurs when related species evolve different traits over time, often due to different environmental conditions, leading to new species
Divergence
A specific, distinguishing quality or characteristic of an organism
Trait
The general term for the differences that exist among individuals of the same species
Variation
A measurement of the number of individuals still alive after a specific period, often used in ecology and life sciences
Survival Rate
In evolutionary terms, this word describes an organism's ability to survive and successfully reproduce in its environment
Fitness