Evolution Basics
This is the term for the change in inherited characteristics of a population over generations.
What is Biological Evolution?
Salmon migrate to spawn in freshwater rivers is an example of this type of adaptation
What is behavioral adaptation?
This famous scientist developed the theory of natural selection.
Who is Charles Darwin?
These preserved remains or impressions show what ancient organisms looked like.
What are fossils?
The process by which the best-suited traits are passed on because those organisms survive to reproduce.
What is natural selection?
The phrase that means organisms best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
What is survival of the fittest?
Leopards' spotted coats help them blend in with their environment. This is an example of:
What is camouflage?
This term describes when more offspring are produced than can survive in an environment.
What is overproduction?
Magnetite crystals in rocks provide evidence that this happened to Earth's continents.
What is continental drift (or that continents have moved)?
A trait that increases an organism’s chance of survival in its environment.
What is an adaptation?
This random change in gene frequency occurs from generation to generation.
What is genetic drift?
This adaptation allows lions to have sharp teeth for tearing meat.
What is biological adaptation?
These small differences between individuals in a species are essential for natural selection to occur.
What is variation?
This term describes Earth’s supercontinent, which Wegener proposed existed millions of years ago.
What is Pangea?
This random change in gene frequency affects small populations more strongly.
What is genetic drift?
This term refers to a change in an organism's DNA that can lead to new traits.
What is mutation?
Giraffes can reach leaves high in trees because of this adaptation
What is long necks?
In natural selection, organisms that have this kind of trait are more likely to survive and reproduce.
What are beneficial (or advantageous) traits?
Scientists were skeptical of Wegener’s theory for this reason.
What is they didn't know continents could move?
This is a group of organisms of the same species living in the same area that can interbreed.
What is population?
A snake is born with two heads instead of one due to this kind of genetic change.
What is mutation?
Bats sleeping during the day and flying at night is an example of this adaptation
What is behavioural adaptation?
This is an example of natural selection in action, where dark-colored moths became more common during the Industrial Revolution.
What is the Peppered Moth example?
The name of the scientific theory that continents are slowly moving.
What is plate tectonics?
This is the passing of traits from parents to offspring through genes.
What is inheritance?