Differences in the characteristics of individuals within a population
2 factors that contribute to the variation between organisms
Genes each individual inherit
Environments each individual is exposed to
Charles Darwin
19thcenturybiologist who is credited with proposing the theory of evolution
Natural selection
The idea that in each generation the individuals with the most favourable characteristics are most likely to survive and reproduce, therefore passing on their genes
Evolution
Process by which the inherited characteristics of a population change over time due to natural selection
Survival of the fittest
Individuals with the most favourable characteristics are most likely to survive
Speciation
The evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species
Discontinuous variation
Where a characteristic had distinct forms with no overlap
The characteristics are usually only influenced by one or two genes
