Evolution and Natural Selection Review

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What is natural selection?

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

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What are advantageous traits?

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Advantageous traits are characteristics that increase an organism's chances of survival and reproduction in a given environment.

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How do fossils support the theory of evolution?

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Fossils provide evidence of past life forms and show patterns of change over millions of years, indicating how species have evolved.

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What is a common ancestor?

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A common ancestor is a species from which two or more different species have evolved.

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What is the significance of embryonic similarities?

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Similarities in early embryonic stages among different species suggest that they share a common ancestor.

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What is adaptation?

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Adaptation is the process by which a species becomes better suited to its environment through changes in traits over generations.

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What is speciation?

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Speciation is the formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

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What role does genetic variation play in evolution?

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

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What is the difference between dominant and recessive alleles?

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Dominant alleles are expressed in the phenotype even when only one copy is present, while recessive alleles are expressed only when two copies are present.

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What is the importance of environmental changes in evolution?

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Environmental changes can create new challenges and opportunities, driving natural selection and leading to adaptations in species.