Chapter 3.4 Adaptation, natural selection and the evolution of species

Question 1

A species is a

Answer 1

group of organisms that freely interbreed to produce fertile offspring

Question 2

Mutations are

Answer 2

random, spontaneous changes in genetic material and the only source of new alleles.

Question 3

Rates of mutation can be increased by environmental factors such as

Answer 3

certain types of radiation and chemicals

Question 4

Mutations can be neutral and have

Answer 4

little effect on the organism with the mutation

Question 5

Mutations can be harmful if they give the organism

Answer 5

a disadvantage and so decrease its chances of survival

Question 6

Mutations can be beneficial if they give the organism an

Answer 6

advantage and so increase its chances of survival

Question 7

Living organisms can evolve and adapt to

Answer 7

changing environmental conditions

Question 8

Variation exists within

Answer 8

populations of living organisms

Question 9

Living organisms often produce more

Answer 9

offspring than the environment can support

Question 10

Natural selection acts on variation in populations in such a way that only those with the best

Answer 10

adaptions survive to reproduce

Question 11

An adaptation is

Answer 11

a feature of an organism that helps it survive

Question 12

The intensity of a selective factor such as predation is called

Answer 12

selection predation

Question 13

The best adapted organisms with favourable characteristics have a

Answer 13

selective advantage

Question 14

Individuals with a selective advantage survive to pass on their

Answer 14

beneficial characteristics to offspring

Question 15

Speciation is the

Answer 15

evolution of two or more species from one original ancestor species

Question 16

Speciation can occur when natural selection acts on an

Answer 16

isolated population causing it to evolve into a new species.