Evolution and Natural Selection
Learning how species change over time through natural selection.
Core concept
Evidence for evolution includes homologous organs (similar structures with a common origin but different functions across species, like a human arm and a bat's wing), fossil records showing gradual changes across geological time, and observed cases of natural selection in action, such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria evolving due to selective pressure from antibiotic use. Evolution does not mean organisms 'try' to change; rather, random genetic variations that happen to be beneficial are naturally favoured by survival and reproduction over generations.
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• Evolution: gradual change in a species' inherited characteristics over many generations.
• Natural selection: organisms with favourable traits survive and reproduce more, passing on those traits.
• Evidence for evolution: homologous organs, fossil records, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
• Evolution occurs through random genetic variation naturally favoured by survival, not intentional change.