Evolution Vocabulary

What is an inherited characteristic that helps organisms survive?

• Evolution

• Adaptation

• Natural Selection

• Extinction

Evolution is...

• changes over time in populations

• natural process that passes favorable traits

• historical timeline of fossils

• the process in which an animal dies out

A mistake or change that occurs in the DNA sequence is called a ______________________.

• Extinction

• Speciation

• Mutation

• Genetic Variation

The process in which an animal cannot reproduce any more and dies out is known as _________________________.

• Speciation

• Extinction

• Evolution

• Natural Selection

When there is a difference in population based on genes, it is said to be a _______________.

• Mutation

• Speciation

• Extinction

• Genetic Variation

Group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.

• species
• gene pool
• population
• homologous structure

Group of organisms all of the same species, living in the same place at the same time.

• gene pool
• population
• species
• evolution

differences in physical traits of an individual from the group to which it belongs

• Adaptation
• Variation
• Fittness
• Natural Selection

measure of an organisms's ability to survive and produce offspring relative to other members of a population 

• Natural Selection
• Adaptation
• Fitness
• Variation

Natural Selection is the idea that

• Organisms better suited for their environment will survive and reproduce

• Any physical or behavioral characteristic that helps an organism to better survive

• Theory that organisms have changed gradually over a long period of time to form mew organisms