17. Variation And Selection Flashcards
Variation
Differences between individuals of the same species
Discontinuous variation
Variation in which in which there are distinct categories of phenotype with no intermediates
Population
A group of organisms of one species living in the same area at the same time
Continuous variation
Variation in which there is a continuous range of phenotypes between step extremes
Mutation
A. Random change in a gene which can produce new alleles
Adaptive feature
An inherited feature that helps an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment
Xerophyte
A plant that had adaptive features that help it to survive in an environment where water is scarce
Hydrophyte
A plant that had adaptive features that help it to survive in water
Natural selection
A process in which individuals with advantageous features are more likely to survive , reproduce, and pass on their alleles to the next generation
Selection pressure
Something in the environment that affects the chance that individuals with different features will survive and reproduce
adaptation
The process resulting from natural selection by which populations become more suited to their environment over many generations
Drug
Any substance taken into he body that modifies or affects chemical reactions in their body
Antibiotic
A substance that is taken into the body and which kills bacteria but does not affect human cells or viruses
MRSA
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus - bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotic methicillin
Artificial selection ‘ selective breeding
Choosing particular organisms with desired characteristics to breed together and continuing this over many generations
