Adaptations

Question 1

what is natural selection?

Answer 1

= increase in frequency of favoured traits

Question 2

selection produces genes that increase fitness, these genes then do what?

Answer 2

produce phenotypes that have functional roles

Question 3

what are the functional roles of phenotypes?

Answer 3

process of evolution or adaptation
produces adaptive traits

Question 4

What does natural selection produce?

Answer 4

adaptations

Question 5

what questions can we ask to test for adaptations?

Answer 5

is the trait heritable?
is it functional with good evidence?
does the trait increase fitness?
evolutionary history can help

Question 6

Example that natural selection can produce adaptations and increase fitness

Answer 6

Evolution of resistance to insecticides

Question 7

What are the non-adaptive explanations for traits?

Answer 7

chance events
by-product of other characteristics
biophysical constraint or default arrangement
product of genetic drift