Genetic Variation and Selection

These flashcards cover key concepts related to genetic diversity, inheritance, selection, time, and adaptation in the context of evolutionary biology.

Variation

The naturally occurring differences in the genetic sequence between individuals in the same species.

Inheritance

The transfer of traits from parents to their offspring.

Selection

The process by which individuals with the most beneficial variations in current environmental conditions survive and reproduce most successfully.

Selection Pressure

Any environmental factor that makes it more or less advantageous for certain traits to be passed on.

Time

The accumulation of successful variations over generations, which may take days, years, or millions of years.

Adaptation

A trait that is common in a population of organisms because it provides a beneficial function in the current environmental conditions.