Evolution and Inheritance

Key Vocabulary

• Offspring: The young animal or plant that is produced by the reproduction of that species.
• Inheritance: This is when characteristics are passed on to offspring from their parents.
• Variations: The differences between individuals within a species.
• Characteristics: The distinguishing features or qualities that are specific to a species.
• Adaptation: An adaptation is a trait (or characteristic) changing to increase a living thing's chances of surviving and reproducing.
• Habitat: Refers to a specific area or place in which particular animals and plants can live.
• Environment: An environment contains many habitats and includes areas where there are both living and non-living things.

Offspring and Inheritance

• Animals and plants produce offspring that are similar but not identical to them.
• Offspring often look like their parents because features are passed on from parents to offspring.

Variation

• In the same way that there is variation between parents and their offspring, variation can be observed within any species, even plants.

Inherited Traits

• Eye colour is a primary example of an inherited trait.
• Other examples of inherited traits include:
  • Hair colour
  • The shape of your earlobes
  • Whether or not you can smell certain flowers

Adaptive Traits

• Adaptive traits are characteristics that are influenced by the environment in which living things live.
• Adaptations can develop as a result of many environmental factors, such as:
  • Food
  • Climate

Habitats

• A habitat refers to a specific area or place in which particular animals and plants can live.
• A good habitat must provide:
  • Shelter
  • Water
  • Enough space
  • Plenty of food

Environments

• An environment contains many habitats and includes areas where there are both living and non-living things.
• There are many types of environments found around the world, including:
  • Polar regions
  • Deserts
  • Rainforests
  • Oceans
  • Rivers
  • Grasslands