Traits and Inheritance
What is a trait?
A characteristic
What is genetic variation?
Trait differences
What is a mutation?
Change in DNA sequence
What can cause genetic traits to change?
Environmental factors
What is the most common saying when it comes to evolution?
Survival of the fittest
What molecule carries genetic information that determines traits?
DNA
What is the source of variation called when the DNA sequence is altered?
Mutation
What are the 3 effects mutations can have?
Harmful
Beneficial
Neutral
What is an example of an environmental factor?
Temperature
Water scarcity
Light availability
Food availability
Who evolves?
Populations
What do offspring inherit from parents?
Genes
Why is genetic variation important?
Survival
What type of process leads to mutations?
Random process
Traits can be expressed differently based on the environment to increase an animals chances at what?
Survival and Reproduction
What must exist first for evolution to occur?
A genetic variation
Why do siblings often have different traits even though they have the same parents?
Genetic Variation
Low genetic variation causes what?
Vulnerability or extinction
When do mutations occur?
During DNA replication
What purpose does camouflage serve?
Predator avoidance
What is the biggest outside factor needed for evolution to occur?
Time
What structure does DNA have?
A double Helix
Genetic Variation allows what process?
Natural Selection
What causes beneficial mutations to spread within a population?
Reproduction (Time)
An organisms environment and their genetic traits together determine what?
A mutation + the environment leads to what?
Evolution