Traits that confer an advantage may persist in the population and are called adaptations.Over time, the proportion of individuals with advantageous traits may increase (and the proportion with disadvantageous traits may decrease) due to their chances of surviving and reproducing.
Inherited characteristics affect the likelihood of an organism's survival and reproduction.New heritable traits can result from mutations.Evolution results from genetic drift acting upon genetic variation within a population.Evolution results from natural selection acting upon genetic variation within a population.It provides an opportunity for students to analyze amino acid data and draw conclusions about the evolution of coat-color phenotypes in the rock pocket mouse. Evolution occurs through multiple mechanisms. This lesson serves as an extension to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute short film The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation.Not all similar traits are homologous some are the result of convergent evolution.There is a fit between organisms and their environments, though not always a perfect fit.An organism's features reflect its evolutionary history.Information on controversies in the public arena relating to evolution.Alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards.The big issues – Pacing, diversity, complexity, and trends.Macroevolution – Evolution above the species level.Microevolution – Evolution within a population.Mechanisms: the processes of evolution – Selection, mutation, migration, and more.The history of life: looking at the patterns – Change over time and shared ancestors.An introduction to evolution: what is evolution and how does it work?.