1. The Theory of Evolution
                        

2. Species
A species consists of interbreeding populations of organisms that can produce healthy, fertile offspring.

3. Most variation in a population results from mutation and recombination of existing alleles.

4. Variation

5. Some variations are adaptations that increase a population’s chances for survival and reproduction.

6. Adaptation Example

7. Physical and Behavioral Adaptations

8. A niche is a particular role that an organism plays in a community

9. Fossils are the preserved remains or imprints of ancient organisms

10. Evolution

11. Natural Selection There is variation within populations
Some variations are favorable
Not all young produced in each generation can survive
Individuals that survive and reproduce are those with favorable variations.

12. Gradualism
Theory that proposes new species evolve as the genomes of two populations differentiate over enormous spans of time.
[Darwin]

13. Gradualism

14. Punctuated equilibrium
Theory that suggests that populations remain genetically stable for long periods of time, interrupted by brief periods of rapid genetic change.
[Gould and Eldridge]

15. Evidence for Evolution