Biology: Darwin and Evolution

How well an organism can survive and reproduce in its environment

• fossil

• fitness

• inherited trait

• ecology

A characteristic encoded in DNA and passed from parents to their offspring

• heterozygous

• fitness

• inherited trait

• macromolecules

New traits are introduced into a population by

• mutations

• biological fitness

• transformation

• production of carbohydrates

The principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

• fitness

• natural selection

• evolution

• artificial selection

a group of organisms that are closely related and can mate to produce fertile offspring

• ecosystem

• crowd

• species

• individual

Body part that is similar in function as a body part of another organism but is structurally different.

• analogous structure

• homologous structure

• vestigial structure

The study of the distribution of organisms around the world

• herpetology

• biogeography

• evolution

The gradual change in a species over time

• natural selection

• evolution

• adaptation

An inherited characteristic that increases an organism's chance of survival

• adaptation

• evolution

• fitness

A condition of having many different types or forms

• homologous

• vestigial

• diversity