evolution

• Evolution


  The theory that all species of life have evolved over time from common ancestors through the process of natural selection
• Natural selection

  The process by which biological traits become either more or less common in a population based on their relative fitness
• Genes control many of the characteristics of organisms and can be passed to offspring
• Sexual reproduction


  Gives rise to an enormous amount of variation
• Favourable characteristics

  Give an organism an advantage in survival and reproduction
• Survival of the fittest

  Organisms that survive in a world of competition are those best adapted to their environment
• Natural selection


  Best adapted individuals are those that are not killed off and reproduce, passing on their genes