5.2 Natural selection

Understandings:

􀁴􀀁 Natural selection can only occur if there is variation among members of the same species.

􀁴􀀁 Mutation, meiosis and sexual reproduction cause variation between individuals in a species.

􀁴􀀁 Adaptations are characteristics that make an individual suited to its environment and way of life.

􀁴􀀁 Species tend to produce more offspring than the environment can support.

􀁴􀀁 Individuals that are better adapted tend to survive and produce more offspring while the less well adapted tend to die or produce fewer offspring.

􀁴􀀁 Individuals that reproduce pass on characteristics to their offspring.

􀁴􀀁 Natural selection increases the frequency of characteristics that make individuals better adapted and decreases the frequency of other characteristics leading to changes within the species.

Applications and skills:

􀁴􀀁 Application: Changes in beaks of finches on Daphne Major.

􀁴􀀁 Application: Evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.