Chapter 17 Vocabulary Bio

evolution

change over time; the process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms

fossil

preserved remains or evidence of an ancient organism

artificial selection

selection by humans for breeding of useful traits from the natural variation among different organisms

adaptation

inherited characteristic that increases an organism's chance of survival

fitness

ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment

natural selection (survival of the fittest)

process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully

biogeography

study of past and present distribution of organisms

homologous structures

structure that is similar in different species of common ancestry

vestigial structures

structure that is inherited from ancestors but has lost much or all of its original function

analogous structure

body part that shares a common function, but not a common structure