5 Questions
What is the primary meaning of adaptation in biology?
The dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection
Who proposed that adaptation is explained by natural selection?
Charles Darwin
What governs the rate of evolution as measured by change in allele frequencies?
Biological fitness
What is the historical significance of adaptation in natural theology?
Taken as evidence for the existence of a deity
How do two or more species often develop adaptations?
Co-adapt and co-evolve as their adaptations interlock
Study Notes
Adaptation in Biology
- Adaptation refers to the process of a population becoming better suited to its environment through changes in its characteristics.
Origin of Adaptation Theory
- The concept of adaptation as an explanation for changes in populations was proposed by Charles Darwin, who attributed it to the process of natural selection.
Evolution Rate Factors
- The rate of evolution, measured by changes in allele frequencies, is governed by genetic drift, mutation, gene flow, and natural selection.
Historical Significance of Adaptation
- In natural theology, adaptation was seen as evidence of a divine creator, with the complexity and diversity of life on Earth being attributed to a benevolent deity.
Co-Adaptation
- Two or more species often develop adaptations through a process of co-evolution, where the adaptations of one species drive the adaptations of another species.
Test your knowledge of biological adaptation with this quiz! Explore the concept of natural selection, evolutionary fitness, and adaptive traits in organisms. Sharpen your understanding of how living beings adapt to their environment to survive and thrive.
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