Question

1. Describe what natural selection is. Use an example to illustrate what you are talking about.

A. Natural selection is a process where humans selectively breed animals for specific traits, leading to artificial evolution.
B. Natural selection is the process by which individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce, leading to the adaptation of a population to its environment. For example, in a population of moths, darker moths have a survival advantage in polluted areas as they are less visible to predators.
C. Natural selection is a process where random mutations in an organism's DNA lead to rapid evolution.
D. Natural selection is the process of animals naturally selecting their preferred mates for breeding.

2. Define evolution in scientific terms.
A. Evolution is the process of creation as described in religious texts.
B. Evolution is the gradual development and change in species over time, driven by the mechanisms of natural selection and genetic variation.
C. Evolution is the study of the universe and celestial bodies.
D. Evolution is the belief that species remain unchanged throughout time.

3. Describe what an adaptation is and how seeing the adaptations of living things is useful for understanding evolution and natural selection.
A. Adaptation is the act of conforming to societal norms. Understanding adaptations is not useful for understanding evolution.
B. Adaptation is a trait or characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment. Recognizing adaptations allows us to see how species have evolved to fit their niches over time.
C. Adaptation is a term used in computer science and has no relevance to biology.
D. Adaptation is the process of becoming adapted to using technology. It is not related to biological evolution.

4. What do the words heredity, variation (mutation), and generations have to do with evolution?
A. These words have no relevance to the field of evolution.
B. Heredity, variation (mutation), and generations are all related to the study of geology.
C. Heredity involves the passing of traits from parents to offspring, variation (mutation) introduces genetic diversity, and generations represent the passage of time in which evolutionary changes occur.
D. Heredity is the study of ancient civilizations, variation (mutation) relates to weather patterns, and generations refer to historical periods.

Answer 1

Natural selection is the survival and reproduction of individuals with advantageous traits in their environment, leading to evolutionary changes in species. Adaptations are traits enhancing survival and reproduction, aiding in understanding evolution. Heredity allows trait inheritance, variation introduces genetic diversity, and generations mark the time scale of evolutionary changes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Natural Selection and Evolution

Natural selection is the process by which individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more successfully than others in their population, leading to these traits becoming more common in the species over time. For example, consider a population of moths where those with darker pigmentation are less visible to predators in polluted areas; these darker moths are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their coloring to future generations. This is an illustration of natural selection, not to be confused with artificial selection, where humans breed animals for specific traits.

Defining Evolution

Evolution is the gradual development and change in species over time due to mechanisms such as natural selection and genetic variation. It encompasses the idea that modern organisms descend from ancient ancestors and that these changes accumulate over generations, leading to the diversity of life we see today.

Adaptations

An adaptation is a trait that enhances an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its particular environment. Observing adaptations can reveal how species have become specialized for their niches, demonstrating the process of evolution and the role of natural selection in shaping these traits.

Understanding Heredity, Variation, and Generations

In the context of evolution, heredity is the passing of traits from parents to offspring, variation (or mutation) introduces new and potentially beneficial genetic differences, and generations refer to the successive groups of offspring through which evolutionary changes can be traced over time.