| A | B |
|---|
| adaptive value | any trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce under a given set of environmental conditions |
| evolution | the prcess by which species have changed over time |
| extinction | the disappearance of all members of a species from Earth |
| fossil record | a collection of fossils used to represent Earth's history |
| genetic variation | the normal differences found among offspring |
| geologic time | Earth's history as revealed by layers of rock |
| mutation | any alteration in the sequence of DNA |
| natural selection | the process by which organisms that are best adapted to a specific environment survive and produce more offspring than organisms that are not as well adapted |
| overproduction | the potential for a species to increase its numbers beyond the areas carrying capacity |
| theory | an explanation, supported by many observations and/or experiments, that can be used to accurately explain related occurences |
| fossil | the preserved remains of ancient organisms |
