Adaptation
Adaptation is the process where a living organism becomes better suited to its environment to survive and reproduce. Think of it as a helpful feature that an organism has developed over time.
A characteristic or trait that increases an organism's chances of survival and successful reproduction in its specific habitat.
It results from natural selection acting on variations within a species over many generations.
Species: A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding.
Examples:
The thick white fur of a polar bear is an adaptation for camouflage and insulation in the Arctic.
The long neck of a giraffe is an adaptation for reaching leaves high up in trees.
Mutation
A mutation is a permanent change in the DNA sequence of a cell. DNA is like the instruction manual for building and operating an organism. Mutations are the ultimate source of all variation in a species.
What it is: A random change in the genetic material (DNA or genes) of an organism.
Genetic Material/DNA/Genes: The set of instructions in a cell that determines the traits of an organism. DNA is the molecule that carries these instructions, and a gene is a short section of DNA that codes for a specific trait.
How it happens: They occur randomly, often due to mistakes during DNA replication (when a cell copies its DNA) or damage from factors like radiation or certain chemicals.
Differences in traits between individuals of the same species.
Effects of Mutations:
Most are neutral: They have no effect on the organism.
Some are harmful: They can cause genetic disorders or reduce the organism's chances of survival.
Rarely, they are beneficial: They give the organism a new trait that improves its chances of survival and reproduction, and these beneficial mutations are what fuel adaptation through natural selection.