Science & Nature · 2
What is the name of the phenomenon where organisms become more adapted to their environment over generations?
Answer
Adaptation
Adaptation is the evolutionary process where organisms gradually develop traits and characteristics that enhance their fitness in a particular environment over many generations. Adaptations can be structural (morphological), physiological, or behavioral in nature. Adaptive traits increase survival and reproduction rates, becoming more common in populations through natural selection. Some classic examples include the giraffe's long neck for browsing tall trees, the polar bear's white fur for camouflage in snow, and the streamlined body of fish for swimming efficiency. Adaptation is continuous and ongoing as environments change.
💡 Did you know?
Bacteria develop antibiotic resistance in just years through adaptive evolution, a critical public health concern.
Other options people guess
- Mutation
- Natural selection
- Speciation
Topics
- evolution
- biology
- ecology
Know your science & nature trivia?
Play a free Science & Nature quiz and see how many you get right — no signup needed to start.
More Science & Nature facts
Science & Nature
What is the process by which organisms adapt to their environment over many generations?
Darwin's finches in the Galápagos Islands changed beak size within decades due to natural selection during droughts.
Science & Nature
What is the name of the process by which organisms adapt to their environment over time?
Darwin's finches in the Galápagos Islands are classic examples of evolution, with different beak shapes suited to different food sources.
Science & Nature
Why do scientists believe wombats evolved to produce cube-shaped feces?
Wombats produce cube-shaped feces. Scientists believe the angular edges prevent rolling away and mark territory more effectively on logs and rocks.
Science & Nature
What is the name of the phenomenon where a massive star collapses and creates an infinitely dense point in space?
The closest black hole to Earth is likely Sagittarius A*, about 26,000 light-years away at the center of our galaxy.
Science & Nature
What is the speed of light in vacuum, approximately?
Light from the Sun takes about 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach Earth, meaning we always see the Sun as it was 8+ minutes ago.
Science & Nature
What is the term for the boundary of a black hole beyond which nothing can escape?
The event horizon of a black hole grows as it consumes more matter, making it a cosmic vacuum cleaner of sorts.