Natural Selection and Evolution

2. A segment of DNA that contains the instructions for building a specific protein or trait in an organism.
3. A characteristic or feature of an organism that can be inherited or acquired.
7. A favorable trait that increases an organism's chances of survival and reproduction in a given environment.
9. The differences in traits among individuals within a population.
12. The differences in DNA among individuals in a population, which can lead to different traits.
13. The process through which populations of organisms change over generations, leading to the development of new species.
14. A measure of an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
15. The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, determined by both genetic makeup and environmental influences.

1. An environmental factor that can affect an organism's chances of survival and reproduction.
4. A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area that can interbreed.
5. The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
6. A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.
8. The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
10. A body part that has lost its original function through the course of evolution, indicating a shared ancestry with other species.
11. The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.