Natural Selection

Natural Selection: How Does it Work?

By Stefan Mejia-Ott

Evolution results from a process called natural selection.

Natural Selection!

Natural selection is a process in which organisms better suited to their environment are able to survive and reproduce more offspring

These favorable traits and characteristics are then passed on to their babies through a process called inheritance.

Multiple Choice

Evolution is the result of a process called ____________

• Natural Selection

• Artificial Selection

• Survival of the Weakest

• Supernatural Selection

Multiple Choice

According to natural selection, organisms more suited to their environment are better able to

• Sleep

• Survive

• Perish

• Migrate

Multiple Choice

The process of passing down favorable traits to one's offspring is called

• Artificial Selection

• Mutations

• Evolution

• Inheritance

The process of natural selection happens when an individual’s genes become different in some way from the genes of others of its kind.

Differences in genes cause differences in an individual’s traits—such as how it looks or its behavior.

Multiple Choice

Natural selection happens when an individual's genes ______________ from the genes of other members of its species.

• Become different

• Stay the same

• Become separated

Multiple Choice

Differences in genes can cause differences in __________ (Choose the best answer).

• Mutations

• RNA

• Appearance

Changes in genetic material are called mutations.

Mutations can occur at any time during an organism’s life span.

Mutations can be inherited or happen randomly. They can also be caused by environmental factors such as too much sunlight.

Multiple Choice

Changes in genetic material are called _____________

• Mutations

• RNA

• Genes

Multiple Choice

Mutations can be inherited or be

• Chosen by the individual organism

• Caused by environmental factors

• Refused at any time

Most changes in genes either harm the individual or do not matter much.

But some changes help an individual to survive and reproduce.

For example, an animal may have better vision or faster legs. These traits may help it find food and avoid its enemies.

Multiple Choice

True or False? All changes in genes are harmless.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Some changes in genes can help organisms _____

• Survive

• Mutate

• Rest

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a change that Darwin observed in the finches of Galapagos Islands?

• Size of the Birds

• Beak Shapes

• Feet and talon (claw)sizes

• Number of feathers

Multiple Choice

What did Darwin think was the cause for the adaptations of the finches on the different Galapagos Islands?

• Types of Food Sources

• Weather Conditions

Multiple Choice

According to Darwin, giraffes developed long neck for what reason? (Choose 2 answers)

• To reach leaves high in trees

• to keep their heads above water.

• To be able to see predators.

Multiple Choice

According to Darwin, giraffes developed long neck for what reason? (Choose 2 answers)

• To reach leaves high in trees

• to keep their heads above water.

• To be able to see predators.

Multiple Choice

A giraffe has 7 bones in its neck. This is the same as ____?

• elephant

• lion

• human

Multiple Choice

The peppered moth has ____ varieties.

• 4

• 3

• 2

Multiple Choice

What happened that made dark colored moth increase its chances of survival?

• Trees were cut down

• Trees were coated in soot (pollution)

• Tress lost all their leaves

Multiple Choice

What factor had an impact on which color of peppered Moth had a better chance of survival?

• Color of the tree bark

• Color of the leaves

• Season of the year

Multiple Choice

Mutations can be spontaneous.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Mutations can leave to evolutionary change.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which is the correct order?

• Genes--> Traits --> Proteins--> Chromosomes

• Proteins --> Chromosomes--> Genes --> Traits

• Chromosomes --> Genes -->Proteins --> Traits

Multiple Choice

Which part of the cell do we find genetic material (DNA) in?

• Mitochondria
• Cell membrane
• Nucleus
• Cytoplasm

Mutations:

​1. Are changes in a gene

Multiple Choice

Based on the definition you just wrote down in your notebook, a mutation directly affects the _____________ that is being coded for. (REMEMBER the order!!!)

• chromosome

• protein
• gene

• trait

2. which then affects the protein being coded for.

Multiple Choice

So, the mutation changes the gene, which directly affects the protein being coded for. This must mean that the _______ is affected.

• trait

• chromosome

• protein

• DNA

3. which, in return, affects the trait shown!

Multiple Choice

Which is the correct order?

• chromosome--> gene--> protein--> trait

• gene--> trait--> chromosome--> protein

• trait--> protein--> gene--> chromosome

Mutations can be:

1. Beneficial (good)

2. Harmful (bad)

3. Neutral (not "good" or "bad")
   

Multiple Choice

Mutations in many bacteria allow them to survive in our bodies even when we take antibiotics. For the bacteria, this is considered a _____________ mutation.

• harmful

• beneficial

• neutral

Multiple Choice

Heterochromia is a genetic mutation that causes two different colored eyes in some dogs and humans. Usually, this mutation does not affect the health of the organism. This mutation is considered:

• harmful

• beneficial

• neutral

Multiple Choice

Polydactyl cats are born with extra toes on their paws. This can help certain breeds of cats catch prey. This type of mutation is:

• harmful

• beneficial

• neutral

Multiple Choice

feline radial hypoplasia is a genetic mutation that can cause severe pain for the cat. This mutation is considered:

• harmful

• beneficial

• neutral