Evolution

Front

What are vestigial structures?

Back

Structures with no function that are remnants of an organism’s evolutionary past.

Front

What is adaptation in the context of evolution?

Back

A feature that allows an organism to survive better in its environment.

Front

How do willow trees gain a survival advantage when attacked by caterpillars?

Back

By altering the chemical composition of their leaves to make them less nutritious and more difficult for caterpillars to digest.

Front

What is the likely reason for the increase in shell thickness of blue mussels after the invasion of the Asian shore crab?

Back

Blue mussels with thick shells survive and reproduce more successfully than mussels without thick shells.

Front

What is natural selection?

Back

The process where individuals better able to adapt to changes in their environment leave more offspring.

Front

What role does competition play in natural selection?

Back

Individuals of species compete with one another to survive.

Front

What is genetic diversity?

Back

The variety of genes within a species, which is essential for natural selection.

Front

What is the significance of survival of the fittest?

Back

It refers to the idea that individuals best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

Front

What is a homologous structure?

Back

An anatomical feature in different species that is similar due to shared ancestry.

Front

What is the difference between adaptation and variation?

Back

Adaptation is a trait that improves survival, while variation refers to differences among individuals in a population.