Evolution

Adaptations

Inherited characteristics that increase an organism's chance of survival and reproduction in a specific environment.

Allele Frequency

How common an allele is in a population, determined by the number of times an allele occurs in a population divided by the total number of copies of all alleles for that gene.

Differential Reproductive Success

When certain individuals in a population produce more offspring than others due to their advantageous traits or behaviors.

Evolution of Species

Changes in heritable traits within populations over successive generations, leading to new species' formation from common ancestors.

Fitness Benefits

Advantages gained from certain traits or behaviors that increase an organism’s chances of survival and reproduction.

Heritable Variations

Differences in characteristics among individuals within a population that can be passed down from parents to offspring through genes.

Mutation

Any change that occurs in the DNA sequence, leading to variations within species and potentially new species.

Natural Selection

A process in nature where organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass those traits to offspring.

Phenotype

An individual's observable physical properties, such as appearance, development, and behavior, influenced by genotype and environment.

Phenotypic Variation

Differences in physical traits among individuals of the same species due to genetic and environmental factors.

Selective Pressure

An environmental factor that causes certain traits to be more or less advantageous, affecting their frequency in a population.

Artificial Selection

A process where humans intentionally breed certain organisms with desirable traits to produce offspring with those traits.

Convergent Evolution

When different species independently evolve similar traits as they adapt to similar environments or ecological niches.

Environmental Pressure

The influence exerted by the environment on organisms, leading to changes in their behavior, distribution, or physiology.

Genetic Basis of Traits

How genes determine the physical characteristics or behaviors of an organism.

Inheritance

The passing of genetic material from parents to offspring during reproduction.

Mechanisms of Evolution

Processes that lead to changes in genetic composition within populations over time, including mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, natural selection, and sexual selection.

Selective Breeding

A process used by humans to develop new organisms with desirable characteristics by selecting parents with beneficial traits.

Wings

Appendages or structures that allow an organism to fly, typically found on birds, insects, and bats.

Adaptation to Different Environments

How organisms change over time in response to their environment to enhance their survival and reproduction.

Alleles

Different versions or variations of a gene that can occur at a specific locus on a chromosome.

Beneficial Mutations

Changes in an organism's genetic material that improve its chances of survival and reproduction.

Bottleneck Effect

A form of genetic drift where an event drastically reduces the size of a population and its genetic variation.

Competition for Resources

A biological concept where organisms vie for the same limited resources in an environment.

Deleterious Mutations

Harmful changes in an organism's genetic material that decrease its chances of survival and reproduction.

Founder Effect

A type of genetic drift that occurs when a small group of individuals becomes isolated, leading to changes in the gene pool.

Gene Flow

The transfer of genetic variation from one population to another.

Genetic Drift

A mechanism of evolution causing random changes in allele frequencies in a population over time.

Mutations

Changes in the DNA sequence of a cell's genome, occurring naturally or due to external factors.

Natural Disaster

A major adverse event resulting from natural processes of the Earth, such as floods or earthquakes.

Speciation

The evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species.