Chapter 9: Evolution by Natural Selection Vocabulary

Vocabulary terms from the introductory section of Chapter 9: Evolution by Natural Selection.

Biological evolution

Any genetic change in a population that is inherited over several generations

Biological species

A group of organisms with similar characteristics that interbreed with one another to produce fertile offspring

Population

A group of individuals of the same species occupying a particular habitat

Punctuated equilibrium

Evolution characterised by long periods of little or no change followed by short periods of rapid change

Natural selection

Mechanism of evolution - organisms survive if they have characteristics that make them suited to the environment

Artificial selection

Human-driven selective force, e.g. breeding of plants and animals to produce desirable traits

Inbreeding

Mating of individuals that are closely related

Outbreeding

Mating of individuals that are not closely related

Speciation

The formation of a new species

Geographic speciation

Formation of a new species when the parent population separated by a geographical barrier

Reproductive isolation

A mechanism that prevents two species from mating with one another and making fertile hybrids