Adaptation
Adaptation
Adaptation (/əˌdæpˈteɪʃən/), from the Latin adaptatio, is a process by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment. It is a central concept in biology and medicine, and is closely related to the concepts of evolution and natural selection.
Etymology
The term "adaptation" comes from the Latin adaptatio, which means "fitting to". It was first used in a biological context by the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in the early 19th century.
Definition
In medicine and biology, an adaptation is a trait with a current functional role in the life of an organism that is maintained and evolved by means of natural selection. Adaptation refers to both the current state of being adapted and to the dynamic evolutionary process that leads to the adaptation. Adaptations enhance the fitness and survival of individuals.
Related Terms
- Evolution: The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth.
- Natural Selection: The process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
- Fitness (biology): An organism's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
- Survival of the fittest: A phrase that originated from Darwinian evolutionary theory as a way of describing the mechanism of natural selection.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Adaptation
- Wikipedia's article - Adaptation
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