Evolution & Natural Selection Flashcard

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What are mutations?

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Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome.

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What does natural selection cause over time?

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Natural selection causes the inherited traits of a population to change over time.

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What are the evidences for evolution?

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Fossil records, embryology, and similar body structures are all evidences for evolution.

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Why is variation important in natural selection?

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Variation is necessary for natural selection, exists in almost all populations, and is caused by mutations and sexual reproduction.

Front

According to Darwin's theory, which individuals tend to survive?

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Individuals with variations best suited to the environment tend to survive.

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Define natural selection.

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

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What is the role of genetic variation in evolution?

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Genetic variation provides the raw material for natural selection to act upon, leading to evolution.

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What is a fossil record?

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A fossil record is a historical sequence of life on Earth as documented by fossils.

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What is embryology in the context of evolution?

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Embryology studies the development of embryos, providing evidence of common ancestry among species.

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What is the significance of similar body structures in evolution?

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Similar body structures among different species suggest a common ancestor and evolutionary relationships.