Biology Hsc Summary 9.3 Blue Print of Life; Part 1

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9.3 Blue Print of Life; Part 1 Evidence of evolution suggests that the mechanisms of inheritance, accompanied by selection, allow change over many generations. Blue Print of Life; - Refers to the chemical basis of heredity. - All information needed to create a complex organism can be stored in the nucleus of a single cell. - This information is passed on from generation to generation through the genetic code. - The variability contained in the genetic information allows evolution of populations. Evolution; - Is the process by which changes occur in populations of organisms over time. Population – the smallest unit capable of evolving (individual organisms cannot evolve; they are part of the process, but it is the population that evolves). - Survival of a species depends on successful reproduction; not all members of a population can reproduce. Species – group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring. - Competition and environmental pressures mean that individuals with inheritable traits or adaptations that are best suited to the environment will be more likely to survive and reproduce, passing these characteristics on to their offspring. Adaptation – a characteristic that increases the chances of survival and reproduction of an organism. - This process is called Natural Selection. - If the competition and environmental pressures then remain the same, the frequency of the adaptations will increase in population over many generations. 1.2.1. Outline the impact on the evolution of plants and animals of: Changes in the Environment; - Evolutionary change is a result of populations of organisms interacting with the environment. - Under constant environmental conditions, populations of organisms will remain unchanged because they are adapted to survive and reproduce under the conditions. - If
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