The Evolution of Life​: Vocabulary

Word Definition Image

Trait a distinguishing quality or 

characteristic, typically one 
belonging to a person.

Adaption the action or process of 

adapting or being adapted.

Evolution In biology, ​evolution​ is the 

change in the 
characteristics of a 
species over several 
generations and relies on 
the process of natural 
selection. 

Natural selection the process whereby 

organisms better adapted to 
their environment tend to 
survive and produce more 
offspring. The theory of its 
action was first fully 
expounded by Charles Darwin 
and is now believed to be the 
main process that brings 
 about evolution.

Population In biology, a p
​ opulation​ is 
all the organisms of the 
same group or species, 
which live in a particular 
geographical area, and 
have the capability of 
interbreeding.

genetic variation Genetic variation​ is the 

difference in DNA 
sequences between 
individuals within a 
population. 

Adapt make (something) suitable 

for a new use or purpose; 
modify.

probability the chance that a specific 

outcome will occur out of a 
total number of outcomes 
proportion the fraction of the whole 

coevolution  the evolution of two 

species in response to 
each other, resulting in 
reciprocal or “matching” 
adaptations 

protein  a type of molecule that 

makes up much of an 
organism’s structure and 
helps it function 

gene  a segment of DNA that 

contains the instructions 
for building a product, 
usually a protein 

DNA  a type of molecule that 

carries the inherited 
information passed from 
parents to offspring 
chromosome  a cell structure that 
contains an organism’s 
DNA 

allele  a specific version or form 

of a gene 

mutation  a random change to an 

organism’s DNA 

Iterative testing  repeated testing of an 

object, tool, or process 
with changes or 
improvements between the 
rounds of testing