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What is the process where organisms with traits better suited to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more?
natural selection
What are three causes of population change over time?
adaptations, mutations, and natural selection
What does DNA evidence show about evolution
it shows similarities between different species
What is a good description of natural selection?
Organisms with beneficial traits surviving and reproducing
when does a species go extinct
if it fails to adapt to change
A change in the genetic material of an organism is called a...
mutation
What is the study of fossils used to understand how organisms have changed over time?
fossil record
What is the main cause of genetic variation
mutations and gene mixing
What does the fossil record show
how life on earth has changed over time
What is genetic variation important
it increases survival chances in a changing environment
What is an example of an adaptation?
a bird developing stronger beaks to eat tough seeds
What favors organisms with beneficial traits
natural selection
what is evolution
gradual change in a species over time
What process introduces new traits into a population?
mutation
District of Columbia
What happens when a species cannot adapt to a changing environment
extinction
Fossils provide evidence for
the existence of extinct species
What does a similar bone structure in two different species suggest?
They have a common ancestor
What happens when an organisms traits allow it to survive longer/better in its environment
it adapts and passes on the traits
what role does natural selection play in evolution
it helps beneficial traits become more common
How does genetic variation help a population?
It increases chances of survival in changing environments
Why do scientists compare the anatomical structures of different organisms
to determine common ancestry
Environmental factors include ....
food supply, predator population, and climate
How do adaptations help organisms
they allow organisms to survive and reproduce
what does anatomical comparison of species show
similarities in their body structures