Adaptation and natural selection
Individuals vary. Some variations help survival in a particular environment. Those individuals reproduce more, so the useful variation becomes more common.
Part of your national curriculum
- Biology: genetics and evolution: Understand differences between species and the variation between individuals of the same species
- Biology: genetics and evolution: Understand changes in the environment that may leave individuals within a species, and some entire species, less well adapted to compete successfully and reproduce, which in turn may lead to extinction
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Outline natural selection using evidence
Key learning points
- • Variation comes first
- • Structural, behavioural, functional
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 13 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 13
Visual introductionPicture this
Adaptation and natural selection
Individuals vary. Some variations help survival in a particular environment. Those individuals reproduce more, so the useful variation becomes more common.
In a nutshell
Outline natural selection using evidence
Explore the idea
Part 2 of 13
Learn
Variation comes first
Organisms do not develop features because they need them. The variation already exists; the environment decides which versions persist.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 13
Learn
Structural, behavioural, functional
Thick fur is structural. Migration is behavioural. Producing concentrated urine to save water is functional. Most species combine all three.
Reset break
Part 4 of 13
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 3 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 5 of 13
Quick check
Part 6 of 13
Quick check
Part 7 of 13
Reset break
Part 8 of 13
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 3 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 9 of 13
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 10 of 13
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
The ____ already exists; the environment decides which versions persist.
Challenge round
Part 11 of 13
Game · Recall cards
Natural selection acts on…
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 12 of 13
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Adaptation and natural selection
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Natural selection acts on…
2. Migrating to avoid winter is which type of adaptation?
3. A population changes over generations because…
4. Which is continuous variation?
Lesson round-up
Part 13 of 13
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
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Ask LunaPart 1 of 13 · Watch & discover
How this is going
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Understand differences between species and the variation between individuals of the same species
- Not looked at yet
Understand changes in the environment that may leave individuals within a species, and some entire species, less well adapted to compete successfully and reproduce, which in turn may lead to extinction