Natural Selection
What is natural selection?
The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
What is an adaptation?
A characteristic or behavior that helps an organism survive in its environment.
What is a homologous structure? And provide an example.
Body parts in different species that have a similar structure but different functions, showing common ancestry.
What is diversity?
Difference in traits or organisms in a population.
What does the term "fitness" mean in terms of natural selection?
Fitness refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.
How does the thick fur of arctic animals, like polar bears, help them survive?
It keeps them warm in freezing temperatures.
What is an analogous structure? And provide an example.
Similar function, different structure.
What is artificial selection?
The process by which humans breed plants or animals for specific traits.
True or False: Natural selection can only happen in animals, not plants.
False. Natural selection can happen to any organism, including plants.
What is camouflage, and how does it help an organism survive?
Camouflage is when an organism's appearance helps it blend into its environment to avoid predators.
What is a vestigial structure? And what is an example?
A structure that no longer serves a purpose.
What does "genetic variation" mean?
The differences in the genes among individuals in a population.
What is "survival of the fittest" in the context of natural selection?
It means that the organisms most suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
What is an example of an adaptation in birds that helps them find food?
Birds with different beak shapes adapt to eating specific types of food, like seeds or insects.
What is an embryo?
The early developmental stage of a living organism.
What is an ecosystem?
Consists of all living things and non-living things in one particular area.
Who is credited with the theory of natural selection?
Charles Darwin
How did the giraffe’s long neck become an adaptation over time?
It helped giraffes reach higher branches for food, especially during times of drought when lower food sources were scarce.
What does embryology study, and how does it support evolution?
Embryology is the study of embryos, and it shows that many species share common stages of development, suggesting common ancestry.
The conditions or non-living parts that surround the living thing.