Evolution and Natural Selection Vocabulary

Historical remnants of a structure that was thought to have greater importance in its’ ancestors, but has little importance now

• homologous structures

• petrified fossil

• vestigial structures

• preserved remains

The process in which populations gradually change over time is called: 

• Ecosystem

• Evolution

• Environment

• Extinct specie

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

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The process in which organisms that possesses the most desirable traits and genes will  be successful in surviving and producing the next generation.

• Adaptation

• Natural Selection

• Artificial Selection

• Selection

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Natural differences in traits within members of a specie. 

• Adaptation 

• Behavior

• Natural Selection

• Genetic Variation

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

The changes an organism make to its behavior or body structure to be better suited for survival in an environment. 

• Adaptation

• Behavior

• Fossil

• Nutrient

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NGSS.MS-LS1-4

A process in nature through which living organisms adapt and change in response to an environmental condition

• Biological Evolution

• Genetic Variation

• Natural selection

• Selective Breeding (artificial selection)

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An inherited trait (Wings, Thick Fur, Camouflage, Hibernation) that increases the chance of survival in its environment

• Adaptation

• Analogous structures

• Homologous structures

• Mutation

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Change in DNA; can be beneficial, neutral, or harmful & cause differences in organisms

• Adaptation

• Analogous structures

• Homologous structures

• Mutation

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The change over time in populations of related organisms

• Biological evolution

• Natural selection

• Cloning

• Selective Breeding (artificial selection)

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

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Body parts of organisms that are similar in structure and position but different in function

• Analogous structures

• Embyology

• Homologous structures

• Vestigial structures

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2