Natural Selection Flashcards
1
Q
What is natural selection?
A
The process by which evolution takes place. Organisms produce more offspring than the environment can support so only those which are most suited to their environment will survive to breed and pass on their useful characteristics.
2
Q
How do new forms of genes come about?
A
Mutations. Tiny changes in the long strands of DNA.
3
Q
How do mutations occur?
A
Through mistakes made in copying DNA when the cells divide.
4
Q
Why are mutations important?
A
They introduce variety into the genes of a species.
5
Q
How will a species evolve?
A
If the mutation help the organism to survive and reproduce it will be passed onto the next generation. The mutant gene will gradually become more common in the population.
