SC.912.L.15.13 - Natural Selection

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What is natural selection?

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Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

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What are vestigial structures?

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Vestigial structures are body parts that have lost their original function through evolution, such as the human appendix.

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What is an example of homologous structures?

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Homologous structures are body parts in different species that share a common ancestry, like the forelimbs of humans, whales, and bats.

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What is adaptation in the context of evolution?

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Adaptation is a trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

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What is disruptive selection?

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Disruptive selection is a type of natural selection that favors extreme traits over intermediate traits, leading to two or more contrasting phenotypes.

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What is the significance of embryology in evolution?

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Embryology provides evidence for evolution by showing similarities in the early development stages of different species.

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How do environmental changes affect natural selection?

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Environmental changes can alter the survival of species, leading to changes in traits that are favored by natural selection.

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What is the role of competition in natural selection?

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Competition for resources can lead to natural selection, as individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

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What is the difference between artificial selection and natural selection?

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Artificial selection is the process by which humans breed organisms for desired traits, while natural selection occurs without human intervention.

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What is the concept of fitness in evolution?

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Fitness refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment, contributing to the gene pool of the next generation.