Evolution

Front

What is a cladogram?

Back

A diagram that shows how species share common features.

Front

What does biological fitness refer to?

Back

An organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a given environment.

Front

How did Charles Darwin contribute to the theory of evolution?

Back

He stated that evolution occurred through natural selection.

Front

What is a phylogenetic tree?

Back

A diagram that shows how living species are related and descended from a common ancestor.

Front

What did Darwin observe about the finches in the Galapagos Islands?

Back

The size and shape of beak was different depending on the food source of each island.

Front

What is natural selection?

Back

The process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Front

Define evolution.

Back

The change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.

Front

What is adaptation in the context of evolution?

Back

A change in an organism that allows it to better survive in its environment.

Front

What is the significance of genetic variation in evolution?

Back

Genetic variation is essential for natural selection, as it provides the raw material for evolution.

Front

What is a common ancestor?

Back

A species from which two or more different species have evolved.