Evolution Latest Update with Certified Solutions

Evolution Latest Update with Certified Solutions overproduction each species produces more offspring than will survive to maturity. camouflage A structural adaptation that enables an organism to blend in with its environment survival of the fittest Process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully; also called natural selection competition Interaction among organisms that vie for the same resource in an ecosystem variation Differences in traits among individual organisms within a population natural selection Process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully; also called survival of the fittest adaptation A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment mimicry Gaining protection by looking and acting like a different species vestigial organ an organ that is not functional in an organism, but was functional at some period in its evolution favorable traits Offspring with favorable traits survive and reproduce, passing on their traits to another generation evolution Change over time Lamarck French naturalist who proposed that evolution resulted from the inheritance of acquired characteristics () Darwin A biologist who developed theory of evolution of species (1859). He argued that all living species evolved into their present form through the ability to adapt in a struggle for survival. Galapagos Islands Chain of islands near South America where Darwin developed his theory of natural selection by studying the unique life there. finches Observed by Darwin. Very similar, but differences can be seen in the size and shape of the bill and/or beak. mutation (genetics) any event that changes genetic structure use and disuse Theory proposed by Lamarck that said body parts develop with increased usage while unused parts weaken. "Use it or lose it!" Trait A characteristic that an organism can pass on to its offspring through its genes. Heredity Passing of traits from parents to offspring artificial selection Breeding organisms with specific traits in order to produce offspring with identical traits; SELECTIVE BREEDING Fossils Preserved remains of once-living organisms; evidence for Evolution homologous structures Structures in different species that are similar because of common ancestry but different because of adaptation to different environments. Analagous Structures similar structure without having a common ancestor evolutionary tree A branching diagram that reflects a hypothesis about evolutionary relationships among groups of organisms.