Natural Selection and Adaptation Flashcards
Who was the first to study and write about species adaptation?
Charles Darwin
What is natural selection?
natural selection occurs when some individuals of a species are better able to survive in their environment and reproduce than others
Natural selection can also be called…
survival of the fittest
Every gene exists in different forms called…
alleles
Some alleles contain one or more…
mutations
What are mutations?
changes in the DNA that affect the way a gene functions
Through ________________ some individuals of a species are better able to survive and adapt to the environment in which they live.
mutations and combinations of alleles
Mutations are _______ changes in DNA sequences.
permanent
If a variation/mutation causes a positive result that makes it easier for the organism to withstand environmental pressures, it is said to be…..
an adaptation
