9 Ae-4

Genetic variation and selection

Name Class Date

1 Draw lines to match the terms with their meanings.

Differences between organisms that are passed on to

natural selection
offspring by their parents in reproduction.

A process in which an organism is more likely to survive

evolution and reproduce than other members of the species
because it possesses a certain inherited variation.

A change in one or more characteristics of a population

inherited variation
over a long period of time.

2 Look at the drawing below.

a What will happen to the population of mice over time?

b Why will this happen?

3 The graph shows the leg lengths of a population of wading birds that live by a lake. The birds
go into the water and pick up small creatures that are buried just under the bottom of the lake.
These small creatures are found in all parts of the lake.

a Is the variation in leg length environmental or

inherited?

b Is the variation in leg length continuous or

discontinuous?

c The number of small creatures suddenly decreases. Circle the part of the graph that shows
the leg lengths of birds that are more likely to survive.
d Explain why you have circled this part of the graph.

I can…
● explain how natural selection favours the survival of some organisms in a population.

© Pearson Education Ltd 2015. Copying permitted for

purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free. 41