EVOLUTION

1. All living things came from an organism that formed over 3.4 Billion years ago, called BACTERIA

2. VARIATION

2.1. Offspring resemble their parents, but each one is unique

2.2. Mutation and genetic recombination cause the variations in each offspring

2.3. Natural selection controls which variations are kept and discarded.

2.3.1. Too many offspring are born in each generation than the environment can handle.

2.3.2. Only the strongest of the generation will survive to adulthood.

2.3.2.1. Competition for resources

2.3.2.2. Predators

2.3.2.3. Climate change

3. SELECTION

3.1. Organisms with the traits best suited for the environment will survive in higher numbers

3.2. Organisms with traits that don't help them survive the best will die off, leaving less survivors to reproduce

4. TIME

4.1. Small genetic changes can lead to a BIG change in traits of a population over several generations

4.2. As time goes on, the less than useful traits disappear in the organisms

4.3. Through the generations, favorable traits become more prevalent