Evolution and Natural Selection

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to evolution and natural selection.

Survival of the Fittest

A concept of natural selection where only the organisms best suited to their environment survive and reproduce.

Natural Selection

The process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change over time.

Genetic Variation

The variety of genes or genetic information within a population.

Gene Pool

The total collection of genes within a population.

Fitness

The ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Adaptation

A trait that enhances an organism's chances of survival and reproduction.

Extinction

The complete loss of a species when it no longer exists.

Speciation

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

Vestigial Organs

Structures that have lost most or all of their original function in a species.

Homologous Structures

Body parts that share a common structure but may serve different functions, indicating a common ancestry.

Biogeography

The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.

Embryology

The study of embryos and their development that provides evidence for evolution by showing similarities among different species.

Descent with Modification

The principle that species change over time, giving rise to new species while adapting to the environment.

Population

A group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area.

Species

A group of interbreeding organisms that do not breed with other groups.

Gene Frequency

The proportion of a specific allele within a population.