Adaptation

A characteristic that improves an idividuals ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment

Species

A group of organisms that are closely related and can mate to produce fertile offspring

Evolution

The process in which inherited characteristics within a population change over generations such that new species sometimes arise

Trait

A genetically determined characteristics

Selective Breeding

The human practice of breeding animals or plants that have certain desired traits

Natural Selection

The process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more sucessfully than less adapted individuals do; atheroy to explain the mechanism of evolution

Speciation

the formation of a new species as a result of evolution

Generation Time

The period between the birth of one generation and the birth of the next generation