10 Questions
What is the definition of a species in the classification system?
A group of organisms that can interbreed with each other to produce fertile offspring.
What is the term for the differences between living organisms of the same species?
Variation
What is an example of an inherited characteristic in humans?
Height and tongue-rolling
Why is the ability to produce fertile offspring important in defining a species?
It is the single most defining characteristic of a species.
What is the smallest group in the classification system?
Species
What influences the variation within a species?
Both environmental and genetic factors
What happens to individuals with characteristics that make them more successful at surviving?
They reproduce more and pass on their characteristics to their offspring.
What happens to the environment over time?
It changes over periods of time.
What is the term for the process of individuals adapting to their environment?
Adaptation
What is the relationship between the environment and the organisms that live in it?
The environment affects the organisms.
Study Notes
Variation Within a Species
- A species is a category within the classification system where individuals can reproduce to produce more individuals of the same species.
- All members of the same species, such as humans (Homo sapiens), can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
- Variation refers to the differences between living organisms of the same species.
- Variation within a species can be inherited, such as characteristics like height and tongue-rolling ability.
Defining Characteristics of a Species
- The ability to produce fertile offspring is the single most defining characteristic of a species.
- A species is a group of organisms that can interbreed with each other to produce fertile offspring.
Environmental Influence
- Environmental conditions influence the survival of organisms within a species.
- Organisms that are adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
- As environments change over time, species need to adapt to survive.
- If a species fails to adapt, it may not survive and could eventually die out.
Adaptation and Variation
- Species adapt to their environment through variation in characteristics.
- Adaptation can occur over a long period of time.
- Variation in a species is essential for its survival and adaptation to changing environments.
Learn about variation within a species, how it differs from one individual to another, and how it is inherited. Discover how species are classified and what makes humans, Homo sapiens, belong to the same species.
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