Fundamentals
Evolution is the result of what?
What is natural selection
Different versions of a gene are known as what?
What is an allele
This type of selection occurs when there is a shift in the environment resulting in nature selecting for one extreme trait.
What is directional selection
Natural selection can lead to small changes for a population over several generations. This causes the population to diverge from other groups of the same species. This is known as what kind of evolution?
What is divergent evolution
The ability of an organism to survive and reproduce is known as what
What is biological fitness
Natural selection was first described by who?
Who is Charles Darwin
Who laid the groundwork for the study of genetics with their experiments on pea plants?
Who is Gregor Mendel
This type of selection occurs when nature selects for two extreme traits.
What is disruptive selection
The function or position an organism plays in the overall ecosystem is known as what?
What is a niche
Physical and ecological factors that affect the fitness of an organism are known as what?
What are extrinsic factors
Organisms with traits best suited for their environment will survive and pass what onto future generations?
What is their genes
The combination of the two alleles an organism inherits from their parents are known as what?
What is a genotype
This type of selection can be seen in clam shells where nature selected a trait that is an average phenotype resulting in less genetic variability.
What is stabilizing selection
A mutation that gives an individual no advantage over another is known as what?
What is a neutral mutation
An allele that lowers an organism's fitness is called what?
What is a deleterious allele
The number of times an allele occurs in a population is known as what?
What is allele frequency
On a Punnett square, a lower case letter represents what?
What is a recessive allele
Each of the three types of natural selection are the result of what kind of change?
What is an environmental change
The fact that many species share similar traits even though they do not have any common ancestors is known as what?
What is convergent evolution
The ability of an organism to pass its genes on to the next generation by producing offspring is known as what?
In the Galapagos Islands, scientists observed finches with what kind of beaks survive and reproduce to pass on their genes?
What are large, strong beaks
Natural selection can produce biological evolution if the genetic changes result in what?
What is phenotype changes (or the expression of different traits)
The field mustard plant has evolved due to what environmental change in Southern California?
What is a drought
Adaptations can lead to a change in the distribution of what for a population
What are traits
Natural selection that increases the frequency of an allele in a population is known as what?
What is positive selection