Adaptive evolution

Definition

Adaptive evolution is the process by which populations become better suited to their environment through changes in genetic traits. It results from natural selection acting on heritable variation within a population.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Adaptive evolution increases the frequency of beneficial alleles in a population.
2. Natural selection is the primary mechanism driving adaptive evolution.
3. Fitness, or an organism's ability to survive and reproduce, is central to adaptive evolution.
4. Environmental pressures such as climate change, predation, and competition can drive adaptive evolution.
5. Adaptive traits that increase fitness can be structural, behavioral, or physiological.

Review Questions

• What role does natural selection play in adaptive evolution?
• How do environmental pressures influence adaptive evolution?
• What types of traits can be considered adaptive?

Related terms

Natural Selection: The process where organisms with favorable traits are more likely to reproduce.

Fitness:

The ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Allele Frequency: The proportion of different variants (alleles) of a gene in a population.