Adaptation
the process by which the characteristics of a species change over many generations in response to the environment.
Artificial Selection
the selection by humans of animals, plants, or other organisms to breed together. Also known as Selective Breeding.
Behavior
all of the actions and reactions of an animal.
Camouflage
the coloring or patterns on an animal's body that allow it to blend in with its environment
DNA
found in the nucleus of a cell, a long nucleic acid molecule containing the genetic instructions for the development and functioning of all living organisms.
Environment
all the living and nonliving things that surround an organism.
Evolve
to change over time.
Extinct
describes a species of animals that once lived on Earth but which no longer exists.
Fitness
describes how well an organism can survive and reproduce in an environment.
Fossil Record
the information about Earth's history that can be gathered from the remains of prehistoric organisms.
Generation
a group of related organisms making up a single step in the line of descent.
Genetic Engineering
process where foreign or modified genes are directly incorporated into an organism's genome.
Genetic Variation
range of differences in DNA among organisms.
Genotype
the genetic makeup of an organism.
Mutation
a change in the nucleotide sequence of an organism's genome; also a change in the amino acid sequence of a protein as a result of a mutation in the gene.
Natural Selection
the process by which favorable inherited traits become more common over time.
Organism
any individual living thing.
Phenotype
the physical appearance of an organism.
Population
the group of organisms of the same species living in the same area.
Species
A group of organisms that share similar characteristics and can mate with each other to produce offspring.
Theory
A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.
Traits
a characteristic or property of an organism.
Variation
the range of differences in features within a group of organisms.