Helpful Definitions

Adaptation: Physical or behavioral change that allows an organism to better survive in the habitat

Ancestor: An early type of plant or animal from which others have evolved

Animal: Living organism that eats organic matter (food) to survive

Dominant:The trait will override others and be expressed in the offspring

Gene (Genetically): Way that hereditary traits are passed from parent to offspring

Unit of hereditary that is transferred from parent to offspring

Inherit: Derive (get) genetically from one's parents or ancestors

Offspring: A plant or animal's young

Organism: A plant, animal, or single-celled life form

Plant: Living organism without a nervous system that produces its own food

Recessive: The trait will only be seen in the offspring if no dominant genes are present

Reproduce, Reproduction: The process by which plants and animals produce offspring

Trait: A characteristic of an organism

Variation: A difference or alternate version (of a trait)