Vocabulary and Core Ideas
What is natural selection?
When organisms with helpful traits survive and reproduce more.
In the beetle example, which color beetles were more likely to survive?
Yellow beetles.
During the drought, which field mustard plants reproduced more successfully?
Early-flowering plants.
If an organism has a trait that gives it an advantage, what is it more likely to do?
Survive and reproduce.
How many hearts does an octopus have?
Three.
What is genetic variation?
Differences among individuals of the same species.
What do stickleback fish use their spines for?
Protection.
What trait helps some bacteria survive antibiotics?
Antibiotic resistance.
In a snowy habitat, which rabbit fur color would likely become more common?
White fur.
What is the largest organ in the human body?
Skin
Why does overproduction lead to competition?
More offspring are born than can survive.
Why were light-colored deer mice more successful in the Sand Hills?
They blended in with the light soil.
Why does antibiotic resistance spread quickly in bacteria?
Resistant bacteria survive and reproduce fast.
In a dry climate, which plant trait would be more helpful: shallow roots or a waxy coating?
A waxy coating.
What is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature?
Mercury
Why do favorable traits become more common over time?
Organisms with those traits survive and reproduce more.
If predators easily see bright-colored insects, what color insects will likely become more common over time?
Duller-colored insects / Darker insects
Why can bacterial populations evolve faster than animal populations?
Bacteria reproduce much faster.
If flowers in an area become deep and narrow, what kind of beak would birds be more likely to need over time?
A longer beak.
About how many pounds can a full-grown blue whale weigh?
up to about 400,000 pounds