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NatSel & Adapt
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| DNA | the abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid, an organism's genetic material |
| nucleotide | a molecule made of a nitrogen base, a sugar, and a phosphate group |
| replication | the process of copying a DNA molecule to make another DNA molecule |
| RNA | ribonucleic acid, a type of nucleic acid that carries the code for making proteins from the nucleus to the cytoplasm |
| transcription | the process of making mRNA from DNA |
| translation | the process of making a protein from RNA |
| Mutation | a permanent change in the sequence of DNA, or the nucleotides, in a gene or a chromosome |
| variation | a slight difference in an inherited trait among individual members of a species |
| natural selection | the process by which organisms with variations that help them survive in their environment live longer, compete better, and reproduce more than those that do not have the variations |
| adaptation | an inherited trait that increases an organism's chance of surviving and reproducing in a particular environment |
| camouflage | an adaptation that enable a species to blend in with its environment |
| mimicry | an adaptation in which one species looks like another species |
| selective breeding | the selection and breeding of organisms for desired traits |
| genetic engineering | the biological and chemical methods that change the arrangement of DNA that makes up a gene |