Topic 7.2 - Natural Selection

Question 1

what acts on phenotypic variations in populations?

Answer 1

natural selection

Question 2

what is genetic variation?

Answer 2

the genotypic/phenotypic differences between individuals in a population

Question 3

what can genetic variation lead to?

Answer 3

different phenotypes and/or adaptations

Question 4

who is more likely to survive and why?

Answer 4

individuals with more favourable traits due to natural selection

Question 5

what does genetic variation increase?

Answer 5

the probability a population will survive under changing environmental conditions

Question 6

selective pressure

Answer 6

any biotic/abiotic factors influencing survivability

Question 7

what are some examples of selective pressure?

Answer 7

> disease
predation
climate
food availability

Question 8

what introduces different selective pressures on populations?

Answer 8

changing environments

Question 9

what is individual fitness relative to?

Answer 9

the environmental conditions

Question 10

fitness

Answer 10

reproductive success over generations

Question 11

what positively impacts fitness?

Answer 11

any phenotype that increases chances of survival and reproduction