logo

Study resource

Variation and evolution key terms

Study Variation and evolution with curriculum-aligned Key Terms resources, practice links, and exam-focused support.

At a glance

key terms

Resource type

Topic

Variation and evolution

AqaGcseBiologyInheritance, variation and evolution

Key terms

  • fertile offspring

    fertile offspring is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that two populations form new species if phenotype differences mean they can no longer interbreed to produce fertile offspring..

  • phenotype

    In Evolution, phenotype means phenotype is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that two populations form new species if phenotype differences mean they can no longer interbreed to produce fertile offspring. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain that two populations form new species if phenotype differences mean they can no longer interbreed to produce fertile offspring. Use phenotype only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • evolution

    evolution is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Use the theory of evolution by natural selection in an explanation..

  • natural selection

    In Evolution, natural selection means natural selection is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Use the theory of evolution by natural selection in an explanation. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to use the theory of evolution by natural selection in an explanation. Use natural selection only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • selective breeding

    selective breeding is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe selective breeding as humans breeding plants and animals for particular genetic characteristics..

  • Describe

    In Selective breeding, Describe means describe is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe selective breeding as humans breeding plants and animals for particular genetic characteristics. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to describe selective breeding as humans breeding plants and animals for particular genetic characteristics. Use Describe only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • domesticated animals

    domesticated animals is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain the impact of selective breeding on food plants and domesticated animals..

  • selective breeding

    In Selective breeding, selective breeding means selective breeding is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain the impact of selective breeding on food plants and domesticated animals. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain the impact of selective breeding on food plants and domesticated animals. Use selective breeding only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • desired characteristics

    desired characteristics is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe choosing parents with desired characteristics from a mixed population..

  • Describe

    In Selective breeding, Describe means describe is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe choosing parents with desired characteristics from a mixed population. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to describe choosing parents with desired characteristics from a mixed population. Use Describe only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • desired characteristics

    desired characteristics is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that selected parents are bred, then offspring with desired characteristics are bred over many generations..

  • Explain

    In Selective breeding, Explain means explain is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that selected parents are bred, then offspring with desired characteristics are bred over many generations. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain that selected parents are bred, then offspring with desired characteristics are bred over many generations. Use Explain only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • disease resistance

    disease resistance is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Identify useful or appearance-based traits selected by humans, including disease resistance, more meat or milk, gentle dog nature and large or unusual flowers..

  • flowers

    In Selective breeding, flowers means flowers is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Identify useful or appearance-based traits selected by humans, including disease resistance, more meat or milk, gentle dog nature and large or unusual flowers. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to identify useful or appearance-based traits selected by humans, including disease resistance, more meat or milk, gentle dog nature and large or unusual flowers. Use flowers only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • inbreeding

    inbreeding is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that selective breeding can lead to inbreeding..

  • selective breeding

    In Selective breeding, selective breeding means selective breeding is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that selective breeding can lead to inbreeding. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain that selective breeding can lead to inbreeding. Use selective breeding only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • inbreeding

    inbreeding is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that inbreeding can make some breeds prone to disease or inherited defects..

  • inherited defects

    In Selective breeding, inherited defects means inherited defects is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that inbreeding can make some breeds prone to disease or inherited defects. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain that inbreeding can make some breeds prone to disease or inherited defects. Use inherited defects only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • ethical issues

    ethical issues is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain benefits, risks and ethical issues of selective breeding when given appropriate information..

  • selective breeding

    In Selective breeding, selective breeding means selective breeding is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain benefits, risks and ethical issues of selective breeding when given appropriate information. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain benefits, risks and ethical issues of selective breeding when given appropriate information. Use selective breeding only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • genetic engineering

    genetic engineering is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe genetic engineering as modifying the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from another organism..

  • genome

    In Genetic engineering, genome means genome is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe genetic engineering as modifying the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from another organism. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to describe genetic engineering as modifying the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from another organism. Use genome only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • desired characteristic

    desired characteristic is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that genetic engineering can give an organism a desired characteristic..

  • genetic engineering

    In Genetic engineering, genetic engineering means genetic engineering is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain that genetic engineering can give an organism a desired characteristic. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain that genetic engineering can give an organism a desired characteristic. Use genetic engineering only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • crop

    crop is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe crop plants engineered for disease resistance or bigger and better fruits..

  • disease

    In Genetic engineering, disease means disease is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe crop plants engineered for disease resistance or bigger and better fruits. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to describe crop plants engineered for disease resistance or bigger and better fruits. Use disease only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • bacteria

    bacteria is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe bacterial cells engineered to produce useful substances such as human insulin..

  • insulin

    In Genetic engineering, insulin means insulin is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Describe bacterial cells engineered to produce useful substances such as human insulin. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to describe bacterial cells engineered to produce useful substances such as human insulin. Use insulin only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.

  • agriculture

    agriculture is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain potential benefits and risks of genetic engineering in agriculture..

  • genetic engineering

    In Genetic engineering, genetic engineering means genetic engineering is a curriculum-aligned term linked to the learning objective: Explain potential benefits and risks of genetic engineering in agriculture. This matters in Variation and evolution because it supports the learning objective to explain potential benefits and risks of genetic engineering in agriculture. Use genetic engineering only in this subtopic-relevant sense so the definition stays concise, curriculum-specific, and useful for AQA GCSE Biology revision. Students should use this term accurately when they explain the biology, identify symptoms, or justify an answer in GCSE Biology questions.