| A | B |
|---|
| Evolution | The process by which populations inherit genetic changes overtime, this leads to organisms changing over time |
| Adaptation | A hereditary characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment |
| Natural Selection | A process by which organisms with favorable traits survive and reproduce at a higher rate than the organisms with less favorable traits |
| Overproduction | When a species produces more offspring than will survive to maturity or adulthood |
| Genetic Variation | When individuals have slightly different traits that give some offspring better chances of surviving than others Example: some are faster, better at surviving predators, better at finding food |
| Struggle to Survive | Environmental pressures keep some organisms from surviving long enough to reproduce. Limited resources can be environmental pressures (not enough food, water, or space). Only the offspring with the best traits for survival will live or reproduce |
| Successful Reproduction | Individuals well adapted to the environment have a better chance to survive or reproduce |
| Speciation | The process by which two populations become so different they can no longer interbreed they become different species |
| Mutation | A change in the order in the bases in an organism's DNA because of a deletion, insertion or a substitution |
| Common Ancestor | When a new species branches off from an older one, after the DNA change |
| Evidence for evolution | Fossil records, comparison of skeletal structure, DNA and embryos |
| Extinction | When environmental pressures cause a species to die out completely |
