Biology B: Unit 6 Biological Evolution Flashcards
adaptation
any trait that can be passed on to subsequent generations that increases the organism’s ability to survive in its environment and reproduce
altruistic behavior
behavior exhibited by individuals within a group that potentially reduces the fitness of that individual but that enhances the fitness of other members of the group
evolution
change in the genetic makeup of a population over time
fitness
how well an individual survives and reproduces in its environment
gene flow
the movement of alleles, or versions of genes, from one population to another
genetic drift
evolution caused by random events
mass extinction
a large-scale dying off of a vast number of species in a relatively short period of geological time
mechanism
a system or process that produces a given result
mutations
changes to the sequence of DNA
natural selection
the process that results in an organism having favorable adaptations to its environment, which are passed on through reproduction, thus changing the genetic makeup of future generations
population
many individuals of the same species that live in the same area
reproductive isolation
inability of members of a population to interbreed successfully with other members of the population, due to separation caused by geographic, behavioral, genetic, or other barriers
reproductive success
an individual’s ability to survive and produce offspring that are viable, fertile, and successful
selection
a process in evolution, like natural selection or artificial selection, in which only certain individuals reproduce and pass on their DNA to the next generation
selective mating
a process of selection in which individuals will only mate with certain individuals based on their characteristics
