Evolution and Inheritance

What is Inheritance?

Inheritance is when characteristics are passed from parents to their offspring. You inherit traits from both parents. Examples: eye colour, hair colour, height.

How Adaptation Works

Adaptation is when a species slowly changes over many generations to survive better in its environment.

Examples:

• Polar bears have white fur for camouflage and thick blubber for warmth
• Cacti store water and have spines to reduce water loss
• Giraffes have long necks to reach leaves high up

Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) developed the theory of evolution by natural selection. He travelled on HMS Beagle and visited the Galapagos Islands where he studied finches with different beak shapes.

Natural Selection

1. Animals in a species are all slightly different
2. Some differences help an animal survive better
3. The animals that survive have more offspring
4. Their offspring inherit the helpful trait
5. Over many years, the whole species changes

Fossils as Evidence

Fossils show us what animals looked like millions of years ago. Some animals have changed a lot; others (like crocodiles) have barely changed.

Key Vocabulary

• Inheritance, Evolution, Adaptation, Natural selection, Fossil, Species