Evolution

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What are variations in a species?

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Variations are the differences among individuals in a species, such as different bird beaks.

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How did decades of whale hunting affect the natural selection of whales?

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Whale hunting likely led to smaller whales as a result of selective pressure.

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Why are mutations important in evolution?

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Mutations bring about genetic variation needed for a population to evolve.

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What is the definition of fitness in an evolutionary context?

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Fitness is the ability to survive and reproduce in a specific environment.

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What is evolution?

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Evolution refers to changes that happen over time in the gene pool of a population.

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What is natural selection?

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Natural selection is the process where organisms with traits better suited to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully.

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What is a gene pool?

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A gene pool is the total collection of genes in a population at any one time.

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What role do adaptations play in evolution?

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Adaptations are traits that enhance an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

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What is the difference between a mutation and a variation?

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A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence, while a variation refers to the differences among individuals in a population.

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What is the significance of genetic drift?

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Genetic drift is a mechanism of evolution that refers to random changes in allele frequencies in a population.