Key Terms
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at the same time.
What is a Population?
For plants and animals, these two things are the only way to "succeed" or "win."
What are Survive and Reproduce?
The "T" in VIST stands for this, noting that traits become more common over many generations.
What is Time?
In artificial selection, this group "selects" the desirable traits.
Who are Humans?
Darwin noticed that bird beak shapes matched this specific factor on each island.
What are Food Sources?
A specific physical feature or behavior that helps an organism survive and reproduce.
What is an Adaptation?
Between a chipmunk with two offspring and one with eight, this one has the greatest fitness.
Who is the chipmunk with eight offspring?
Natural selection cannot occur without this; it results from mutations or meiosis.
What is Variation?
These four common vegetables (kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage) all come from this one plant.
What is Wild Mustard?
While natural selection is the process, this is the result.
What is Evolution?
Naturally occurring differences between individuals of the same species.
What is Variation?
In a snowy forest, this color rabbit is more likely to survive because it blends in.
What is white?
The "I" in VIST stands for this; only traits coded in DNA can be passed to offspring.
What is Inherited?
All 400 breeds of modern dogs share this common ancestor.
What is the Grey Wolf?
Darwin concluded that birds whose beaks DID NOT fit the food on each island did this - which is why only those with the "fittest" beaks were there.
What is "didn't survive" on the island?
The measure of how well an organism can survive and reproduce in its environment.
What is Fitness?
The reason peppered moths changed from light to dark in the 1800s.
What is pollution/soot covering tree bark?
This occurs when there are more individuals than the environment can support, creating a "survival advantage."
What is Selection?
Two examples of traits humans might select for in plants.
What are Yield, Flavor, or Growing Speed - or many others...?
Darwin's conclusions became known as this famous theory.
What is the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection?
The change in the traits of a population over time.
What is Evolution?
Individuals whose traits best fit their environment are more likely to do these two things.
What are Survive and Reproduce?
True or False: Individual organisms change their traits through natural selection.
False—populations change, not individuals.
The main goal of artificial selection is to _____.
What is benefit humans?
Charles Darwin conducted his most famous observations at this island chain.
What are the Galapagos Islands?