Experiments, Evolution & Natural
Selection|Complete Questions with A+
Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
Treatment group
individuals who receive treatment
Control group
individuals who do not receive treatment
Independent variable
what is being changed in the experiment
Dependent variable
what response is measured
Replication
multiple individuals treated identically, reduces likelihood of results being due to chance
Sample size
the number of individuals in a group
Verbal Model
A simple description of a relationship EX, smoking causes cancer
Mathematical model
Involves an equation that provides information for a relationship
Creationism
Species created by a god
Theistic evolution
evolution guided by a god
, Natural evolution
evolution by natural processes
Lamarck's big idea was "_________________" changes during an organism during its lifetime
are passed on to it's offspring, this model was refuted by experimentation but influence darwins
ideas about evolution
inheritance of required characteristics
Evolution by natural selection
process where organisms with better traits suited to their environment are more likely to
survive and reproduce
Artificial selection
process in which humans breed organisms with favorable traits to create offspring with
favorable traits
There are two assumptions necessary for natural selection to occur: organisms must possess
__________ differences and certain organisms reproduce __________ offspring than others
heritable, more
Heritability
% of phenotypic variation determined by the additive effects of alleles
Discrete traits
only have two or three different phenotypes
Continuous traits
have many different phenotypes
Random mutation
the idea that mutations are not trying to supply an organism with what they need
Blending inheritance
the idea that phenotypes blend during reproduction
Evidence against blending inheritance
if blending inheritance was accurate we would eventually run out of variation in any given
population