Evolution and Natural Selection

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What is evolution?

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The process by which different kinds of living organisms develop and diversify from earlier forms during the history of the earth.

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What is natural selection?

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The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

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What is an adaptation?

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A characteristic that enhances an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.

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What are homologous structures?

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Anatomical features in different species that share a common ancestry, indicating evolutionary relationships.

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What are analogous structures?

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Body parts in different species that have similar functions but do not share a common ancestry.

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What are vestigial structures?

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Body parts that have lost their original function through evolution, such as the human appendix.

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What is speciation?

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The process by which new species arise from existing species.

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What is coevolution?

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The process where two or more species influence each other's evolution through natural selection.

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Who is Charles Darwin?

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A naturalist known for developing the theory of evolution through natural selection.

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What is genetic mutation?

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A change in the DNA sequence that can lead to variations in traits among individuals.