Natural Selection

Front

What is natural selection?

Back

Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

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What is an example of a trait that may evolve through natural selection?

Back

The long and sharp beak of a woodpecker is an example of a trait that may evolve through natural selection.

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What type of selection favors one extreme phenotype over others?

Back

Directional selection favors one extreme phenotype over others.

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Who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?

Back

Charles Darwin proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection.

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Can individuals evolve?

Back

No, only populations can evolve; individuals cannot evolve.

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What does the term 'evolution' refer to?

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Evolution refers to genetic change over time in a population.

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What is stabilizing selection?

Back

Stabilizing selection is a type of natural selection that favors average phenotypes and reduces variation.

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What is disruptive selection?

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Disruptive selection is a type of natural selection that favors extreme phenotypes over average ones.

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What is the role of genetic variation in natural selection?

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Genetic variation provides the raw material for natural selection to act upon, allowing populations to adapt to changing environments.

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What is adaptation in the context of evolution?

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Adaptation is a trait that increases an organism's fitness in its environment.