Unit 7 Evolution & Diversity Vocab #2

Natural Selection

organisms with certain inherited traits survive and reproduce because those traits make them more fit for their environment

geographic isolation

isolation between populations due to physical barriers

reproductive isolation

separation of a population so that they no longer interbreed and evolve into two separate species

Speciation

Formation of new species

Conditions needed for natural selection

genetic variation, competition, fittest survive and reproduce; reproduction passes on survival traits and changes the allele frequency of the population

primitive

an early stage in the evolutionary or historical development of an organism - usually less complex

advantage

Something that is helpful or useful

fitness

the ability of an individual to survive and reproduce in its specific environment

common ancestry (common ancestor)

when organisms are descended from a single ancestor

evolution

The gradual change in a species over time

heritable

Traits that can be passed on to offspring

selective pressure

environmental factor that causes one phenotype to be better than another

competition

the struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources

adaptation

inherited characteristic that increases an organism's chance of survival

beneficial/favorable

something that is helpful or good