Evolution and Natural Selection

Flashcards covering key concepts and vocabulary related to evolution and natural selection.

Survival of the fittest

The concept that individuals best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Lamarck's Theory

A theory proposing that organisms can change during their lifetime and pass on acquired traits to offspring.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms with favorable variations survive and reproduce more successfully.

Adaptation

A heritable characteristic that enhances an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Struggle for Existence

The competition among individuals in a population for limited resources necessary for survival.

Descent with Modification

The idea that species evolve over time and are descended from common ancestors with changes.

Gene Flow

The movement of genes between populations, which can affect genetic diversity.

Genetic Drift

Random changes in allele frequencies in a population, which can lead to evolutionary change.

Mutation

A change in DNA that can create new alleles and influence evolution.