Phenotypes, Variation & Selection

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to phenotypes, variation, and selection based on the provided lecture notes.

Phenotype

Any observable or measurable characteristic(s) of an individual, essentially synonymous with trait(s).

Genotype

The genetic factors (genome) of an individual that partly determine its phenotype.

Phenotypic Variation

The natural differences in phenotype observed among individuals in any population.

Ontogenetic Change

Changes in phenotype an individual undergoes over the course of its developmental history, including growth, age-related changes, and influences of the external environment.

Phenotypic Plasticity

The expression of strikingly different phenotypes by the same genotype depending on local environmental conditions.

Evolution

The change in the average value of a genetically based character in a population over time.

Natural Selection

The process where certain phenotypes confer improved survival and/or reproduction compared to others.

Artificial Selection

A human-directed process, unlike natural selection, typically involving the breeding of domestic plants and animals.

Fitness

Lifetime offspring production, which has a causal relationship with an individual's phenotype.