Unit 7 brainstorm ao bio

Natural Selection

Favorable traits increase in frequency because individuals with those traits reproduce more

Charles Darwin

Scientist who proposed natural selection after studying Galápagos finches and tortoises

Survival of the Fittest

Individuals best adapted to the environment survive and reproduce most

Evolutionary Fitness

Ability to pass genes to the next generation

Founder Effect

Allele frequencies change when a small group becomes isolated from the main population

Genetic Drift

Random changes in allele frequencies due to chance

Genetic Migration

Movement of individuals between populations that changes allele frequencies

Genetic Bottleneck

Large population drastically reduced by disaster causing low genetic diversity afterward

Natural Selection (Mechanism)

Process that increases frequency of beneficial traits in a population

Sexual Selection

Selection based on traits that increase mating success (e.g., peacock tail)

Mutation

DNA change that introduces new genetic variation

Artificial Selection

Humans selectively breed organisms for desired traits

GMO

Genetically modified organism created through genetic engineering

Stabilizing Selection

Favors the average phenotype and reduces extremes

Directional Selection

Favors one extreme phenotype

Disruptive Selection

Favors both extreme phenotypes and selects against the average

Phenotypic Differences

Variation in traits caused by mutations and genetic diversity

Biotic Factors

Living influences such as predators, parasites, or competition

Abiotic Factors

Nonliving influences such as temperature, water, elevation, or climate

Adaptation

Trait that improves survival or reproduction in a specific environment

Behavioral Adaptation

Action that helps survival (migration, hibernation, learned or innate behaviors)

Physical Adaptation

Structural trait that helps survival (fur thickness, camouflage)

Innate Behavior

Inborn behavior not learned from experience

Learned Behavior

Behavior acquired through experience or teaching

Homologous Structures

Similar anatomy due to common ancestry but different functions

Vestigial Structures

Reduced structures with little or no function inherited from ancestors (appendix, wisdom teeth)

Analogous Structures

Similar function but different evolutionary origin (e.g., shark vs dolphin fins)

Evidence for Evolution

Physical and genetic traits showing common ancestry among organisms

Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium

Model describing a population not evolving

p² + 2pq + q² = 1

Sum of genotype frequencies equals 1