Unit 6: Concept 1 - Natural Selection Flashcards
What is evolution?
Process of biological change in populations over time that makes descendants genetically different than ancestors
What is microevolution?
Evolution on a small scale affecting a single population
What is macroevolution?
Evolution on a large scale affecting many species
Who was Charles Darwin?
Developed a theory on natural selection to serve as mechanism for how evolution occurs
What is natural selection?
Organisms with the best traits, or adaptations, live longer and reproduce more
What does heritable mean?
changes in population over time acting on traits that are this
What does fitness mean?
measures how well you can survive in your environment
What are the principles of natural selection?
Overproduction of offspring, variation, adaptation, descent with modification
What does overproduction of offspring mean?
lots of offspring and limited resources causes competition for those resources
What does variation mean?
differences in physical traits of organisms
What does adaptation mean?
feature that allows an organism to better survive in its environment
Adaptation changes the ______________.
Gene pool
What does descent with modification?
change in gene frequency over time
What are the three modes of selection?
Directional, Disruptive, Stabilizing
What are the Mechanisms of Microevolution?
- Mutations
- Natural Selection
- Genetic Drift
- Gene Flow
- Sexual Selection
- Genetic Equilibrium
