Evolution by Natural Selection

Question 1

Adaptation:

Answer 1

Any characteristic that increases fitness

Question 2

Fitness:

Answer 2

The ability to survive & reproduce

Question 3

Heritable traits:

Answer 3

Characteristics influenced by genes, passed from parents to offspring

Question 4

Evolution by Natural Selection:

Answer 4

The process of heritable adaptive characteristics becoming more common in population

Question 5

Time:

Answer 5

Evolution by natural selection takes place over many, many generations

Question 6

Adaptation occurs in the population:

Answer 6

Evolution by natural selection does not refer to individual changing

Question 7

Key Ideas of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection: (4 points)

Answer 7

• Individuals produce an excess of offspring
• Not all offspring can survive
• Individuals that differ in their traits are associated w/ differences in the ability to survive & reproduce
• Differences in traits can be passed on from parents to offspring