EVOLUTION TERMS

Evolution Change in DNA over many, many years Challenge: is evolving the same as growing up?

Natural Selection “Survival of the Fittest” Process in which the most fit will survive and reproduce, which changes DNA frequency

Which animal is the fittest in this picture? Fitness Ability to survive and reproduce in your environment Which animal is the fittest in this picture?

Population Group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area

Genetic Drift Change in DNA frequency in small populations due to an unlucky event (natural disaster, wrong place, etc)

Gene Pool All of the genetic material (DNA) in a population

Reproductive Isolation Separation of a population so that they cannot interbreed anymore; leads to speciation

Geographic Isolation Separation of a population by a geographic barrier (river, mountain range, island, etc) so that they cannot interbreed anymore; leads to speciation

Speciation When a species diverges and a new species is formed

Biodiversity Many different types of living organisms Ex: bears, dogs, butterflies, daisies, flies

Mass Extinction Event leading to the death of many types of organisms at the same time

Hypothesis Possible explanation based on observations or research

Experimental Error Possible error that occurs during an experiment Ex: all rulers, beakers have error (nothing is perfect!)

Control Factor in an experiment that is not changed Ex: the sugar pill (placebo) Which flower is the control?

Scientific Evidence observations/facts that are collected using the scientific method

Logic Reasoning Creating valid arguments

Sentence Def. in your words Ex. of what is not Drawing Idea for Practice: For each vocabulary word, complete a bubble map. Make sure to color code. Sentence Def. in your words Word Ex. of what is not Drawing