MODERN GENETICS & EVOLUTION UNIT Flashcards
Species:
individuals that mate and produce
fertile (can bear children) offspring.
Variation:
differences between individuals
of the same species.
Adaptation:
a trait (feature) that helps an
individuals survive and reproduce; very
helpful variation.
Natural Selection:
the process by which
individuals that are better adapted to the
changing environment (nature) are more
likely to survive and reproduce than other
individuals of the same species (extinct).
Species:
individual → living children that can reproduce
Adaptation:
beneficial variation
Natural Selection:
nature “picks” who
continues on and who doesn’t (extinction)
Extinction:
species (individuals) no longer
exist.
Evolution:
change (in physical shape) over
time
Variation:
differences between individuals
Ex: a classroom of people
Ex: pride of lions
Evolution:
physical change in a species over time.
Example: human brain size increased over time
Natural Selection Examples:
1] white & brown fur rabbits vs. white fox in Alaska
2] short and long neck dinosaur
Test Evolution:
bacteria in laboratory
Why ? reproduce very rapidly; “babies” every day,
asexual reproduction (cell division).
Extinction:
death of a species because it can not
adapt to the changing environment.
speed
the rate at which someone or something is able to move or operate.
“we turned onto the runway and began to gather speed”
velocity
the speed of something in a given direction.
acceleration
a vehicle’s capacity to gain speed within a short time.
increasing speed
car speeds up at green light
decreasing speed
car slows down at red light
changing direction
car takes a turn
Acceleration:
object’s speed increases
Example: pitcher throws a ball
Bat hits a ball
Car passes another car
Biking down hill
Deceleration:
object’s slowing down; also
called “negative acceleration”
Example: catching a soft ball
Car stops at a light
Boat stops pulling water skier.
changing direction:
a constant speed with a change in direction.
Example: car accelerates around a gentle curve in a road or
changing lanes
Runner accelerates around a curve on the track.
Circular motion: ferris wheel’s accelerate
