What are the key differences between natural selection and phenotypic plasticity?
Natural Selection: Acts over generations, changes allele frequencies. | Phenotypic Plasticity: Rapid, within-lifetime changes in phenotype.
Compare and contrast how natural selection and phenotypic plasticity contribute to adaptation.
Both help organisms adapt to changing environments. Natural selection acts over generations through changes in allele frequencies, while phenotypic plasticity allows for rapid, within-lifetime adjustments.
What is the definition of natural selection?
The process where environmental factors determine which traits become more common in a population due to differential reproductive success.
What is the definition of genotype?
An individual's genetic makeup, referring to the specific alleles they carry.
What is the definition of phenotype?
The physical expression of the genotype, representing the observable traits of an organism.
What is the definition of phenotypic plasticity?
The ability of an organism to change its phenotype in response to environmental changes, even with the same genotype.