Natural Selection Definition: When certain organisms in a species are best suited to their environment and survive and reproduce at a higher rate than other members of the species.
Overproduction Definition: When too many organisms are produced and the amount exceeds the carrying capacity. Example: When too many beetles are produced, some of them are eaten by predators.
Variation Definition: When many offspring are produced, they have different genes. This causes for them to have different physical traits. Example: Some finches have small beaks, others have large beaks.
Adaptation Definition: When organisms have variations that give them an advantage over other organisms. These traits make them better adapted to survive. Example: Nature caused some giraffe's necks to grow longer so they could easily access their food source.
Selection Definition: When organisms who have special traits are better adapted to survive, so they reproduce and pass on their genes to the next generation. Example: Non-toxic butterflies that mimic toxic butterflies' wings are selected to reproduce because they are not eaten by predators.
Artificial Selection Definition: When humans mimic natural selection by choosing which traits we want and which individuals in a species survive and reproduce. Example: Over time, we have artificially selected which dogs survive by breeding them.