Genetic Adaptation

Definition

Genetic adaptation refers to changes in an organism's genetic makeup that occur over generations, allowing it to better survive and reproduce in its environment.

Analogy

Imagine genetic adaptation as upgrading your computer's hardware components. Just as upgrading your computer improves its performance for specific tasks, genetic adaptations improve an organism's chances of survival and reproduction.

Related terms

Species Adaptation: Species adaptation involves changes at the level of the entire species, while genetic adaptation focuses specifically on changes within an organism's genes.

Mutation: Mutation is a random change or alteration that occurs in an organism's DNA sequence, potentially leading to new genetic adaptations.

Allele Frequency: Allele frequency refers to how often a particular version (allele) of a gene appears within a population.