| A | B |
|---|
| Traits | All the characteristis that you can see and those you cannot see |
| Mutation | A change in DNA. Main cause for variation. Must be in gamete to be passed to offspring. |
| Gametes | Reproductive cell (egg or sperm). Can pass on mutations. |
| Inherited characteristics | Traits that you got from your parents. You are born with it. |
| Acquired characteristics | Traits that you get through your life, for example, a tattoo. You are NOT born with it. |
| Organism | Living things |
| Environmental pressure | Something in an organism's surroundings that can affect whether or not they survive or reproduce. Example: compete for resources; weather changes. |
| Survival | Ability to live in an environment. Linked to traits. |
| Variation | Differences among members of a species within a population. Ex: Rabbits with different fur colors. |
| Population | Group of the same organisms in an area |
| Species | Group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring |
| Speciation | Development of a new species |
| Adaptation | Characteristic of an organim that helps them to survive in their environment. Example: claws, migration, wings, fur |
| Genetic variation | Differences in genes. Necessary for natural selection. |
| Natural selection | Process in which organisms that are best suited to their environment as a result of favorable characteristics are able to survive and reproduce. Those without the favorable traits die. Requires genetic variation. |
| Fitness | Ability to produce viable offspring. |
| "Survival of the Fittest" | What Darwin's theory is referred to as. Those better suited will reproduce more causing those traits to appear more often in the population. |
| Evolution | Traits of a species' population changes over time. Only occurs after many, many generations. |
| Extinction | End of a species. Caused because traits are no longer favorable to their environment. |
