| Term | Definition |
|---|
| evolution | change over time |
| theory | well-supported scientific explanation |
| fossils | preserved remains of ancient organisms |
| artificial selection | natural selection controlled by humans |
| struggle for existence | members of each species compete regularly to obtain food, living space, and other necessities of life |
| fitness | ability of an individual to survive and reproduce in a specific environment |
| adaptation | any inherited characteristics that increases an organism's chance of survival |
| survival of the fittest | the process in which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce successfully |
| natural selection | survival of the fittest |
| descent with modification | each living species descended, with changes, from other species over time |
| common descent | all species were derived from a common ancestor |
| homologous structures | structures that have different mature forms but develop from the same embryonic tissues |
| vestigial organs | structure that still exists, but has no function |
Combine with other sets
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace