Evolution

Evolution is the process by which populations of living organisms change over generations. It is the source of the diversity seen in life today, and is fundamental to the functioning of modern ecosystems. Evolution is driven by natural selection; random genetic variations mean some individuals are better suited to their environment, and so are more likely to survive and produce offspring. Over time, these beneficial traits accumulate in the population, allowing organisms to adapt and become better and better suited to their environment. This process has been observed and studied extensively, leading to the development of the theory of evolution by natural selection. Evolution has a wide range of applications, from predicting the spread of disease to the production of new medicines and agricultural technologies.