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Unit F Vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
adaptation | Any inherited characteristic that increases an organism’s chance for survival and reproduction. |
class | The usual major subdivision of a phylum or division in the classification of organisms, usually consisting of several orders. |
classification | A process of grouping organisms into taxonomic levels based on shared characteristics and genetic relationships. |
competition | Interaction between organisms or species using the same limited resources, such as food and living space. |
DNA | Deoxyribonucleic acid; a long double-helical molecule, present in chromosomes, that contains the genes. |
endangered species | A species that is in danger of becoming extinct due to loss of population or other threats. |
environment | The physical, chemical, and living factors in an area. |
evolution | The changes in species through time. |
extinct / extinction | A species in which the last member dies without any surviving offspring. Extinction is the process of becoming extinct. |
family | The usual major subdivision of an order or suborder in the classification of plants, animals, fungi, etc., usually consisting of several generaerations |
fossil record | All of the information about past life that provides evidence about the history of life on Earth. |
genes | A specific sequence of DNA that determines one or more traits. |
mutation` | A change in the DNA of a gene that can lead to a different trait. |
natural selection | certain traits that give them a better chance for survival and reproduction pass their traits on to the next generation at a greater rate than individuals with less adaptive traits |
population | A group of the same species of organisms living in a specific location or habitat. |
speciation | The formation of new species as a result of geographic, physiological, anatomical, or behavioral factors that prevent previously interbreeding populations from breeding with each other. |
species | A group of organisms with similar characteristics and evolutionary history that can successfully reproduce. |
trait | A specific version of a characteristic that varies from one individual to another. |
variation | Differences in individuals of the same species. |
vertebrates | An organism with a jointed backbone. |