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Vocab: evolution
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| evolution | change in a kind of organism over time; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organism |
| theory | well tested explanation that unifies a range of observation |
| fossil | preserved remains or evidence of an ancient organism |
| national selection | process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully |
| artificial selection | selection by humans for breeding of useful traits from the natural variation among different organisms |
| fitness | ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment |
| adaptation | inherited characteristic that increases an organism's chance survival |
| survival of the fittest | process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully |
| homologous structures | structures that have different mature forms in different organisms but develop from the same embryonic tissues |
| common descent | principle that all living things have a common ancestor |