Evolution: Changes Over Time Name: Kane Griffin Per: 3

DIRECTIONS: Use the provided reading to answer the following questions.

1. Use the reading to fill in the table below with the definitions and use the term in a sentence.
Vocabulary Term Definition Use it in a Sentence

Diversity The presence of a variety of The cultural diversity of the city was
different elements or qualities evident in its wide range of ethnic
within a group or system. restaurants and international
festivals.

Natural Selection The process by which organisms
with favorable traits are more likely
to survive and reproduce, leading to
the gradual evolution of a
population.
In a habitat where food is scarce,
natural selection may favor
individuals with traits that enable
them to find and consume food more
efficiently.

Adaptation The adjustment or development of The long neck of the giraffe is an

traits in an organism to better suit adaptation that evolved to help it
its environment and improve its reach high branches for food in its
chances of survival and natural habitat.
reproduction.

Mutation A change in the DNA sequence of a Mutations are the source of genetic
gene, which can result in altered variability, providing the raw material
traits in an organism. for natural selection to act upon
during evolution.

Extinction The complete disappearance of a The extinction of the dinosaurs is

species or group of organisms from believed to have been caused by a
the Earth combination of a large asteroid
impact and environmental changes.

Evolution The complete disappearance of a The theory of evolution, proposed by

species or group of organisms from Charles Darwin, revolutionized our
the EarthThe gradual change in the understanding of how species change
heritable characteristics of a and adapt over time.
population over successive
generations, often driven by natural
selection.

2. What does the term survival of the fittest mean?

The term survival of the fittest means the animal or organism that is most fit for their environment
sruvives over the others.

3. Explain how we know that organisms that lived millions of years ago are related to the organisms of today.
 We know that organisms from millions of years ago are related to those today because we can look at
things like the armidilo which we have found a very similar skeleton to form millions of years ago.

4. Explain how a mutation might lead to adaptation.

A mutation can lead to adaptation because that mutation that an organism gets might be useful to its
environment so it keeps the mutation in future generations becoming an adaptation.

5. Green beetles are a favorite treat of the blackbird. They live on the green foliage in a local temperate forest.
Unfortunately, drought has caused most of the trees to die out and the leaves to turn brown. How can this
environmental change impact the population of the green beetle?
The green beetles can die out because they cannot blend in which the green leaves anymore since the
leaves are brown.

6. A mutation of a brown exoskeleton has been introduced into the green beetle population above. Explain what
might happen to the population with the introduction of this new trait. Make sure to use the vocabulary from
the table above and relate it to the idea of survival of the fittest.
The new population would outlive the green beetles and natural selection would eliminate the green
beetles keeping the brown beetles and eliminating the diversity and causing the extinction of the
green beetles.