DO SPECIES CHANGE OVER TIME?
How does genetic variation among organisms affect survival and reproduction?
Species change over generations of time by natural selection. Natural selection occurs only if there is both:
(1) variation in the genetic information between organisms in a population
(2) variation in the expression of that genetic information—that is, trait variation—that leads to differences in performance among individuals. The traits that positively affect survival are more likely to be reproduced and thus are more common in the population.
(1) variation in the genetic information between organisms in a population
(2) variation in the expression of that genetic information—that is, trait variation—that leads to differences in performance among individuals. The traits that positively affect survival are more likely to be reproduced and thus are more common in the population.
Topic Summary:
Genetic variation in a species results in individuals with a range of traits. In any particular environment individuals with particular traits may be more likely than others to survive and produce offspring. This process is called natural selection and may lead to the predominance of certain inherited traits in a population and the suppression of others. Natural selection occurs only if there is variation in the genetic information within a population that is expressed in traits that lead to differences in survival and reproductive ability among individuals under specific environmental conditions. If the trait differences do not affect reproductive success, then natural selection will not favor one trait over others.
* Mastery Check *
- I can construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
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National Research Council 2012. A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13165
This site contains original content that may not be authorized for use by the creator and is legally used under the fair use principles section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1986 (17 U.S. Code § 107)
The official NGSS website. https://www.nextgenscience.org
LS4.C HS-LS4-4
Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.
This site contains original content that may not be authorized for use by the creator and is legally used under the fair use principles section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1986 (17 U.S. Code § 107)
The official NGSS website. https://www.nextgenscience.org
LS4.C HS-LS4-4
Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to adaptation of populations.