Evolution Vocabulary for Biology

The process of biological change in populations over time that makes descendants genetically different from their ancestors

• Evolution

• Microevolution

• Macroevolution

• Natural selection

Large scale evolution affecting a species across populations

• Evolution

• Microevolution

• Macroevolution

• Natural selection

Mechanism of evolution where organisms with the “best” traits are favored and thus live longer and reproduce more, causing changes in the population over time so that the fittest survive

• Evolution

• Microevolution

• Macroevolution

• Natural selection

Small scale evolution affecting a single population

• Evolution

• Microevolution

• Macroevolution

• Natural selection

The combined alleles of all individuals in a population

• Fitness

• Adaptation

• Gene pool

A feature that allows an organism to better survive in its environment

• Fitness

• Adaptation

• Gene pool

A measure of how well an organism can survive in its environment

• Fitness

• Adaptation

• Gene pool

Mechanism of evolution caused by the movement of genes into or out of a population

• Genetic drift

• Gene flow

• Sexual selection

• Genetic equilibrium

Mechanism of evolution that occurs when random change in the allele frequency happens in the population

• Genetic drift

• Gene flow

• Sexual selection

• Genetic equilibrium

Mechanism of evolution that favors traits that potentially decrease survival, but increase likelihood of reproduction

• Genetic drift

• Gene flow

• Sexual selection

• Genetic equilibrium