All Flashcards
Define natural selection.
The process where heritable traits beneficial for survival and reproduction become more common in a population over generations.
What is a phenotype?
Any observable trait or characteristic of an organism, resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
Define selective pressure.
Environmental factors that favor certain traits, leading to differential survival and reproduction.
What is fitness in evolutionary terms?
A measure of an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment, often quantified by the number of offspring it produces.
Define adaptation.
An inherited trait that enhances an organism's survival and reproduction in a specific environment.
What are the four pillars of natural selection?
Variation: Individuals in a population vary in their traits. Heritability: Traits can be passed from parents to offspring. Differential Survival: Some individuals survive and reproduce better than others. Reproduction: Individuals with beneficial traits leave more offspring.
What is the difference between phenotype and genotype?
Phenotype: Observable traits of an organism. Genotype: Genetic makeup of an organism.