Natural Selection

species

similar organisms that can mate with each other and produce fertile offspring

fossil

preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past

adaptation

a trait that increases an organism's ability to survive and reproduce

evolution

the process of a species changing over time

scientific theory

a well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations

natural selection

the process where individuals that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce thus passing on the beneficial genes to the next generation

trait variation

any difference between the characteristics of individuals within the same species

competition

when individuals attempt to get the same limited resources (food, space, mates, etc.)

overproduction

species produce more offspring than are able to survive to adulthood and reproduce

Population

A group of organisms of the same species living in the same area at the same time

Trait

specific characteristic of an individual

Genetic Variation

Any difference between the DNA in individuals of the same species.

Mutation

a change in the DNA sequence

Fitness

how well an organism can survive and reproduce in its environment

Phenotype

An organism's physical appearance, or visible traits.

Environmental pressure

The factors in an ecosystem that make it hard to survive and reproduce (food, predators, temperature, mates). Also called "selective pressure"

Artificial selection

when humans select organisms with desired traits to breed and get offspring with the desired traits