click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Unit 4
Changes Over Time
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| evolution | the process by which populations change over time |
| natural selection | the process by which organisms that inherit advantageous traits tend to reproduce more successfully than other organisms do |
| artificial selection | the process of selecting and breeding organisms that have certain desired traits |
| mutation | changes in the number, type, or order of bases on a piece of DNA |
| variations | natural differences in traits of a species |
| adaptation | an inherited trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment |
| extinction | occurs when all members of a species have died |
| fossils | the remains or imprints of once-living organisms |
| fossil record | provides evidence about the order in which species have existed through time |
| species | a group of organisms that are very closely related. They can mate and produce fertile offspring |