Natural Selection A
Change in a population over a very long period of time.
Evolution
If an organism is successful as surviving and reproducing, will its population increase or decrease?
Increase
What happens when the environment suddenly changes, like from a drought or flood?
Only the organisms that are best adapted will be able to survive and reproduce
What do the similarities in fossils most likely indicate?
A. they have similar behaviors
B. they evolved from a common ancestor
C. they are all genetically identical
D. they lived in different environments
B. they evolved from a common ancestor
Humans choosing the traits that they want in a species
Artificial Selection or Selective Breeding
The process where the organisms that are well adapted to their environment survive and reproduce
Natural Selection
Scientists compare a fossil of a species that lived 5,000 years ago with members of the same species today. They notice there are several differences between the two. What most likely can be said about the environment and the species?
A. The environment did not change significantly, and the species developed new mating habits.
B. The environment did not change significantly, but the species changed over time.
C. The environment changed significantly, causing the species to change over time.
D. The environment changed significantly, but the species did not change.
C. The environment changed significantly, causing the species to change over time.
Are the fossils in the lower levels of the fossil record still living or extinct?
Extinct
The oldest fossil in the rock is on the ___________ layer
Name an example of Artificial Selection and why that is an example it.
Answers can vary
Example: dog breeds, corn, watermelon, horses
Because each of those examples had traits that were picked by humans
What are the differences in members of a species referred to as?
Genetic Variation / Variability
The mice population fur color changed from gray to black over several generations. What probably changed to cause this to happen?
The environment changed so the black-furred mice were better adapted than the gray-furred mice
Give an example of genetic variation
Answers can vary, as long as it has 2 differences
Example: dark mouse and light mouse, spotted cat and striped cat
the youngest fossil is on the _________ layer
Top
A farmer wants bigger chickens because he can sell them for more money. How should he get a whole population of larger chickens without buying a whole bunch of chickens?
He should only breed the larger chickens together, so they produce chicks that are larger
A trait that is beneficial to the organism and help it survive and reproduce
Adaptation
Deer with longer legs can run faster than deer with shorter legs. Cheetahs escaped from the zoo and started preying on them. What will happen to the deer population?
The deer with longer legs will survive because they can outrun the cheetahs while the short-legged deer get eaten. The long-legged deer will increase in population and the short-legged deer will decrease
Give an example of an adaptation
Answers will vary, as long as it is a beneficial trait that helps the organism survive
Example: a chameleon's tongue, a dolphin's blowhole, colorful petals of a flower to attract pollinators
Why do scientists examine fossils found in different layers of rocks?
To see how organisms changed over time
What is Genetic Engineering / Genetic Modification?
When DNA from one organism is transferred into another organism, causing that organism to have new traits
Why would an organism be brightly colored, even though those kinds of colors attract predators
To attract mates. The benefit of attracting mates is stronger than the fish being eaten by predators. Even if they do die, they will have likely reproduced and passed on their traits.
What will happen to the organisms that are not well adapted to their environment if it changes suddenly?
They will likely become extinct
What is the most important thing to remember with evolution?
the best suited for their environment survive and reproduce and those who are not will die
Looking at a bird fossil from a million years ago shows that the birds of today ____________ compared to birds from long ago
Does selective breeding increase or decrease genetic diversity and variability in a population?
Decrease