An inherited characteristic that improves an organism's ability to survive and reproduce.

The process by which individuals with inherited characteristics more suited to the environment leave more offspring on average than others.

The evolutionary principle that species more suited to or better able to adapt to their environment will survive before less suited species.

Structures that originate from the same type of tissue but may be used differently in different organisms.

When two species evolve to be more and more different over time.

The purposeful choice to breed certain characteristics into a species of animals or plants.

When different species develop similar traits for similar purposes.

Features of different species that are similar in function but not necessarily in structure.

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat/ecosystem.

A part of an organism that doesn't seem to have a purpose anymore.

The development of a new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

The remains of a plant or animal from past ages.

The process of becoming different.

The scientist that studied the theory of evolution through natural selection.