Small changes
Reproduction can bring useful changes.
Desert camels
Over a long time camels developed humps to store fat and survive in deserts.
How can such new features appear?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Reproduction allows small changes in the instructions passed from parents to offspring; changes that help survival in an environment can, over many generations, lead to new features or even new types of living beings.
Desert camels
Over a long time camels developed humps to store fat and survive in deserts.
How can such new features appear?
- Small changes in the instructions passed on at reproduction
- Camels decide to change
- The desert makes humps instantly
Over many generations
Press Next step.
Life changes slowly
Reproduction not only keeps each kind continuing but also helps life adapt to change and continue in new forms.
Reproduction allows small changes in the instructions passed on. Changes that help survival can, over many generations, lead to new features or even new types of living beings.
Notes
Small changes in the instructions can, over many generations, give new features.
Check yourself
Reproduction allows small changes in the instructions passed from parents to offspring. These can …
Camels developed humps over time to …
Some bacteria have become resistant to …
Over many generations, helpful changes can lead to …
- help survival in an environment — correct. Yes!
- never matter. Some changes help a plant or animal survive better.
- always harm. Some changes help survival.
- fly. Humps store fat to survive in deserts.
- store fat and survive in deserts — correct. Yes!
- hide. Humps store fat.
- sunlight. Some bacteria became resistant to antibiotics.
- water. Some bacteria became resistant to antibiotics.
- antibiotics — correct. Yes!
- new features or even new types of living beings — correct. Yes!
- no change at all. Over many generations changes can add up.
- the end of life. Reproduction keeps life going.