The Theory of Natural Selection

Develop worksheet to match the following with the summary: Variation gives advantage; Species overpopulate, Struggle for Existance, Survivasl of the fittest. Only survivors reproduce.

• All individuals of a given species show differences called hereditary variation. Variation is not random. It often follow a pattern known as a "bell-shaped or normal curve". Variation acting on genotypes is long term whereas variation acting on a phenotype is short term. Variations in less familiar species is often overlooked.
• Species reproduce and their numbers increase geometrically.
• Because more individuals are produced than can survive, there is intraspecies competition for the necessities of life: food, water, shelter, space, etc.
• Some individuals have differences that permit them to adapt and increase their chances for survival. [Survival of the Fittist] <--- Not proposd by Darwin
• Those individuals that are better adapted survive to reproduce and subsequently pass those traits onto their offspring.