Natural selection and evolution

natural selection

The survival and reproductive success of of organisms with qualities best suited to their enviroment.

embryo

the early stage of development for a multi-cellular organism

Homologous structure

physical features in different organisms that are similar due to a common ancestor, even though they may have different functions.

analogous structure

they serve the same function between organisms, but are different in internal anatomy.

Environmental changes

alterations to the environment caused by both natural processes and human activities.

Fossils

Formed when organisms become buried in sediments, causing little decomposition of the organism. It’s the remains or impression of a prehistoric organism that are preserved.

adaptation

an inherited trait that improves an organism’s fitness for survival

Vestigial structure

structures in an organism that has lost most or all of it’s function. (EX. Appendix, wisdom teeth)

evolution

changes in the heritable traits of a population over several generations

common ancestor

an ancestral species from which two or more different species evolved.

speciation

the evolutionary process by which new species arise from existing ones, typically through reproductive isolation.

Extinction

the termination of a species by the death of its last member

Whats the difference between Natural Selection and Extinction?

evolution is the broad process of species changing over time, while natural selection is a key mechanism that drives evolution.