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Evolution & Genetics
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Species | organisms belonging to a group of organisms that having common characteristics and are capable of mating with each other |
| Natural Selection | a driving force in the evolution of a species that favors changes according to environmental conditions |
| Offspring | new organisms produced by a living thing, the product of the reproductive processes of an animal or plant |
| Adaptation | is the evolutionary process whereby an organism becomes better able to live in its habitat or habitats |
| Inherit | to receive (a characteristic) from one's parents by genetic transmission |
| Evolution | a gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form. |
| Diversity | the genetic characteristics that distinguishes us from others. |
| Competition | the simultaneous demand by two or more organisms for limited environmental resources, such as nutrients, living space, or light. |
| Mutation | a change of the DNA sequence within a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in the creation of a new character or trait. |
| Gene Pool | the collective genetic information contained within a population of sexually reproducing organisms. |
| Genetic Variation | differences among individuals in the composition of their genes or other DNA segments |
| Theory of Evolution | a theory that describes how organisms change over many generations. |
| Taxonomy | branch of biology concerned with identifying, naming and classifying species |
| Homologous | having the same relation, relative position, or structure, in particular. |
| Analogous | structures performing a similar function but having a different evolutionary origin, such as the wings of insects and birds. |