In this deck, we'll explore inheritance, variation, and evolution. You'll learn how characteristics are passed from parents to offspring through genes, what causes variation within a species, and how Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection explains the evolution of life on Earth. We'll cover everything from DNA and Punnett squares to fossils and antibiotic resistance.

Let's start with reproduction, the process by which organisms create new individuals. There are two main types: asexual and sexual. Asexual reproduction involves only one parent. The offspring are genetically identical to the parent, meaning they are clones. This method is common in bacteria, some plants, and simple animals.

The main advantage of asexual reproduction is that it's very fast and efficient. An organism doesn't need to find a mate, so it can colonise a favourable environment quickly. However, the major disadvantage is the lack of genetic variation. If the environment changes, for example a new disease appears, the entire population could be wiped out as they all have the same weaknesses.