Science Animal Adaptation Quiz

Adaptation

A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

Artificial Selection

The process by which humans breed organisms for desired traits.

Charles Darwin

A naturalist who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Diversity

The variety of different species or genetic traits within a population or ecosystem.

Evolution

The gradual change in a species over time through genetic variation and natural selection.

Fitness

An organism’s ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.

Genotype + Phenotype

Genotype is the genetic makeup of an organism

phenotype is the physical expression of that genetic makeup.

Inheritance

The passing of genetic traits from parents to offspring.

Mutations

Changes in DNA that can lead to new traits in organisms.

Natural Selection

The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully.

Offspring

The children or young produced by a parent organism.

Peppered Moths

A species used to study natural selection, showing how populations change in response to environmental changes.

Vestigial Structure

A body part that has lost its original function through evolution.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area.

Species

A group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.