This document contains vocabulary terms and definitions related to natural selection and evolution. It includes 14 key terms such as mutation, evolution, fossil, species, adaptation, and natural selection. Interactive questions and definitions are provided to help the learner understand and practice these important concepts.

1. Natural Selection and
Evolution
Vocabulary and
Target Practice

2. Vocabulary Words
 Mutation  Competition
 Evolution  Geologic Time Scale
 Homologous structures  Hominid
 Variation  Trait
 Adaptation  Fossil
 Natural Selection  Species
 Overproduction  Gene

3. Definition of what?
A preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past.
FOSSIL
What determines an individual’s physical traits?
Genes

4. Definition of what?
A preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past.
FOSSIL
What determines an individual’s physical traits?
Genes

5. Definition of what?
A preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past.
FOSSIL
What determines an individual’s physical traits?
Genes

6. What is the word?
A characteristic that an organism passes to offspring through its genes.
TRAITS
Similar structures that related species have inherited from a common
ancestor.
Homologous structures

7. What is the word?
A characteristic that an organism passes to offspring through its genes.
TRAITS
Similar structures that related species have inherited from a common
ancestor.
Homologous structures

8. What is the word?
A characteristic that an organism passes to offspring through its genes.
TRAITS
Similar structures that related species have inherited from a common
ancestor.
Homologous structures

9. Do you know what I am?
A group of similar organisms that can mate with each other and produce
fertile offspring.
SPECIES
Any change in the DNA of a gene or a chromosome.
MUTATION

10. Do you know what I am?
A group of similar organisms that can mate with each other and produce
fertile offspring.
SPECIES
Any change in the DNA of a gene or a chromosome.
MUTATION

11. Do you know what I am?
A group of similar organisms that can mate with each other and produce
fertile offspring.
SPECIES
Any change in the DNA of a gene or a chromosome.
MUTATION

12. What’s the word?
More individuals are produced than can survive.
OVERPRODUCTION
A type of primate characterized by bipedalism, relatively long lower limbs,
and lack of a tail.
HOMINID

13. What’s the word?
More individuals are produced than can survive.
OVERPRODUCTION
A type of primate characterized by bipedalism, relatively long lower limbs,
and lack of a tail.
HOMINID

14. What’s the word?
More individuals are produced than can survive.
OVERPRODUCTION
A type of primate characterized by bipedalism, relatively long lower limbs,
and lack of a tail.
HOMINID

15. Do you know the word?
Any difference between members of the same species.
VARIATION
When a favorable trait helps a species survive so that they can
reproduce and pass on the favorable trait to their offspring.
NATURAL SELECTION

16. Do you know the word?
Any difference between members of the same species.
VARIATION
When a favorable trait helps a species survive so that they can
reproduce and pass on the favorable trait to their offspring.
NATURAL SELECTION

17. Do you know the word?
Any difference between members of the same species.
VARIATION
When a favorable trait helps a species survive so that they can
reproduce and pass on the favorable trait to their offspring.
NATURAL SELECTION

18. What am I?
The members of a species must compete for food, space and other
resources with one another to survive.
COMPETITION
The standard method used to divide the Earth’s long natural history
in manageable parts or periods of time.
GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE

19. What am I?
The members of a species must compete for food, space and other
resources with one another to survive.
COMPETITION
The standard method used to divide the Earth’s long natural history
in manageable parts or periods of time.
GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE

20. What am I?
The members of a species must compete for food, space and other
resources with one another to survive.
COMPETITION
The standard method used to divide the Earth’s long natural history
in manageable parts or periods of time.
GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE

21. What am I?
A characteristic (trait) that helps an organism survive and reproduce
in its environment.
ADAPTATION
The process of change over generations, sometimes creating a new
species. The gradual change in a species over time.
EVOLUTION

22. What am I?
A characteristic (trait) that helps an organism survive and reproduce
in its environment.
ADAPTATION
The process of change over generations, sometimes creating a new
species. The gradual change in a species over time.
EVOLUTION

23. What am I?
A characteristic (trait) that helps an organism survive and reproduce
in its environment.
ADAPTATION
The process of change over generations, sometimes creating a new
species. The gradual change in a species over time.
EVOLUTION

24. What are the factors
that affect Natural
Selection?

25. Can you give me some
examples of artificial
selection or selective
breeding?

26. What are some reasons
why species become
extinct?

27. What observations or
discoveries do biologists
use as support for the
theory of Evolution?

28. How can an adaptation
affect the survival of a
WHOLE species?

29. What is the scientific
explanation for how
species change over time?

30. Target Practice o _____ developed ideas about
_________ and ________.
Word Bank
Adaptation  A trait that increases ability to
Evolution survive and reproduce is known as an
Favorable Traits ____________.
Offspring
Species  _____ help individuals ____.
Survive
Reproduce o _____exist between individuals of
Variations
the same ____.
Darwin
• If an individual is able to survive, it
Natural Selection
will be able to ____, and so ______

31. STUDY Your
Vocabulary!
Answer the
questions on
your Evolution
Unit Test
Video Clip