| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| adaptation | Inherited characteristics that aid in an organism’s survival and reproduction. |
| class | The major subdivisions of classifying living organisms which consists of several orders. |
| classification | The process of grouping living organisms into classes. This is achieved by comparing traits and characteristics and genetic relationships. |
| competition | In which organisms/species use the same limited resources. |
| DNA | (Also known as deoxyribonucleic acid) A long molecule that carries and passes down genes from parent to offspring. |
| endangered species | A species that is in danger of becoming extinct. |
| environment | The surroundings or conditions in which an organism lives. |
| evolution | The slight changes in a species that build up over time. |
| extinction | In which a species ceases to exist because the last of said species died without any surviving offspring. |
| family | Major subdivisions of an order that help to specify what type of organism one is. |
| fossil record | Information about past / extinct species that provides information about the history of life on Earth. |
| genes | Units of genetic code that are passed down from parent to offspring and determine said offspring’s traits. |
| mutation | A change in DNA that can lead to different traits. |
| natural selection | In which organisms with traits that give them a better chance of survival live long enough to reproduce and pass those traits on to the next generation. Over time, the organism without these traits die. |
| population | Organisms of the same species living in the same general habitat or vicinity. |
| speciation | The formation of a new species due to new changes previously prohibited by the environment or evolution. |
| species | A group of organisms with similar identifying traits and evolutionary history that can reproduce offspring with little variation. |
| trait | A distinguishing version of a quality or characteristic that varies from one individual to another. |
| variation | Differences in organisms of the same species. |
| vertebrates | Organisms with a backbone/spinal column. |
