natural selection Flashcards
Adaptation
a characteristic that improves an individuals ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
Species
a group of organisms that are closed related and can mate to reproduce fertilize offspring.
Evolution
the process in which inherited characteristics within a population change over Generations such that new species sometimes arise.
Fossil
the remains or physical evidence of an organism preserved by geological processes.
Fossil Record
historical sequence of life indicated by fossils found in layers of earth’s crust
Trait
a genetically determined characteristic
Selective Breeding
Choosing parents with particular characteristics to breed together and produce offspring with more desirable characteristics.
Natural Selection
the process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change.
Generation time
the average interval between the birth of an individual and the birth of its offspring.
Speciation
how a new kind of plant or animal species is created.
Relative Dating
we determine which things are older or younger based on their relationships.
Absolute Dating
measure the physical properties of an object itself and use these measurements to calculate its age.
Geologic Time Scale
the calendar for events in Earth history.
