Final answer:
An adaptation is a heritable trait that aids the survival and reproduction of an organism in its environment. Examples include webbed feet in platypus and thick fur in snow leopards.
Step-by-step explanation:
An adaptation is a heritable trait that aids the survival and reproduction of an organism in its present environment. It is a result of natural selection, where individuals with favorable traits are more likely to survive and pass on their traits to the next generation.
For example, a platypus's webbed feet are an adaptation for swimming, while a snow leopard's thick fur is an adaptation for living in the cold. These traits help these organisms better fit their environment and increase their chances of survival and reproduction.
In conclusion, adaptation is an important concept in biology as it describes how organisms become better suited to their environment over time through changes in genetic variation.